Ferrari will develop the SF-26 until the end of the season

Fred Vasseur says Ferrari will continue developing the SF-26 through the end of 2026. Small aerodynamic updates are expected at Monza, alongside a second engine update enabled by the ADUO mechanism. Their presence and final specification still need confirmation when the cars are inspected.

Ferrari is second in the constructors’ standings with 338 points, 87 behind Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have each won a Grand Prix, but the team has not converted every competitive phase into major results. Vasseur says the cost cap does not force Ferrari to stop incremental development.

Monza must therefore measure two separate things: the gain from the new parts and the quality of the weekend’s execution. Antonelli’s penalty creates an opening, but guarantees nothing against Russell, the resurgent McLarens or Verstappen. An engine update can improve power and energy recovery; it cannot fix poor tyre preparation or a strategic error.

Ferrari’s real test is to reduce both its technical gap and the points lost through execution. A home win would carry huge weight, but the durable value of the weekend will be whether the Scuderia can keep closing on Mercedes over the remaining nine rounds.