Ferrari refuses to abandon SF-26 before crucial Austin development test

Ferrari has decided to continue developing the SF-26 rather than shutting down the project early. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur indicated that the team plans to bring its final significant upgrade package to the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Maranello intends to gather further performance answers from the current car before completely switching technical focus toward the 2027 campaign.

The decision comes despite rivals shifting their attention, as Mercedes prioritizes 2027 preparations and Red Bull works to resolve tire degradation issues. Ferrari secured earlier season victories with Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona and Silverstone, along with a second-place finish by Charles Leclerc at Spa-Francorchamps, before suffering recent performance declines across races at Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid.