With a four-week gap in the F1 calendar, Ferrari will treat April as a mini pre-season. The team has set three on-track activities at Mugello, Fiorano and Monza to gather aero, energy-recovery and tyre data before the Miami Grand Prix. Antonio Giovinazzi, Arthur Leclerc and Antonio Fuoco will drive in the opening run, as Ferrari looks to close the gap to Mercedes when racing returns.
The program starts with a two-day TPC at Mugello using last year’s SF-25-spec car. TPC stands for Testing of Previous Car and is allowed by the FIA this season. Giovinazzi, Leclerc and Fuoco will rotate through the car to collect aerodynamic readings and energy-recovery system data. The aim is to speed up correlation work between the factory and the track and to shape the next steps for upgrades.
Ferrari will then move to Fiorano on April 9–10 for an artificial-wet test with Pirelli. The current SF-26 will run over two days to evaluate wet and intermediate tyres and to study car behavior in low-grip conditions. At least one full-time driver is expected to take part. The team will focus on set-up windows, warm-up characteristics and how the chassis and aero package handle standing water and changeable grip.
Around April 21–22, Ferrari plans a filming day at Monza. The high-speed circuit will help the team gather more aerodynamic and ERS data under the 200 km filming allowance. Ferrari also intends to run an evolved rear ‘macarena’ wing and flip-up element. Any parts that deliver the expected gains could be carried to Miami. The short mileage still offers value for straight-line mapping, drag and efficiency checks, and power deployment studies.
This window opened after the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi races created a race-free April. The rules let teams run previous-year cars for dedicated test work, which enables Ferrari’s Mugello TPC. The focus across all three outings remains clear. The team wants real-world validation of wind tunnel and simulator findings, faster feedback loops on aero and ERS development, and a broader tyre understanding in both dry-baseline and wet conditions.
Miami on May 3 is the next race on the calendar. Ferrari aims to arrive there with a better-balanced package and a clearer plan for upgrades. The combined Mugello, Fiorano and Monza efforts are designed to reduce the gap to Mercedes as the season restarts, using the unexpected break to compress development that would normally take several events to complete.