Racing
© Jonathan Borba
Ferrari will use the month-long April pause, created by the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancellations, to run an on-track program aimed at speeding upgrades for Miami. The plan includes a Mugello TPC session with the SF-25 on April 1 to 2, wet testing at Fiorano on April 9 to 10, and a 200 km filming run with the SF-26 at Monza around April 21 to 22. The team wants to keep momentum, collect data, and try to cut the gap to Mercedes before a run of races in the United States.
Mugello opens the schedule with two days of testing under the Testing of Previous Cars framework. Ferrari will run the SF-25 with Antonio Giovinazzi, Arthur Leclerc, and Antonio Fuoco. The focus is on driver training and gathering data that supports the current project. The mileage gives Ferrari fresh track readings on tire behavior, aero stability, and systems checks in real conditions. The team expects those readings to feed into model updates and setup learning that can be applied when the SF-26 returns to action.
The SF-26 is set to run at Fiorano on April 9 to 10 for wet-condition work. The plan includes at least one lead driver. The aim is to prepare for upcoming upgrades and to validate performance in variable grip and spray. Wet running can stress thermal management, balance, and traction control maps in ways that dry circuits do not. Ferrari will look for consistent feedback across runs so that any new parts are understood before the car returns to race weekends.
Around April 21 to 22, Ferrari will take the SF-26 to Monza for a filming day capped at 200 km. The team intends to evaluate a major upgrade package bound for Miami. Reports have flagged an inverted rear wing nicknamed the “Macarena” among the parts under review. Leclerc is named as a driver for the session. Filming days offer limited distance, but they allow teams to run new pieces on a live track, check fit and finish, and gather basic aero and cooling data while staying within the rules.
The compressed plan turns an unexpected lull into useful track time. April does not include a mandatory factory shutdown, so Ferrari can keep engineers, mechanics, and drivers working on a clear path to Miami. On-track checks can expose issues that do not appear in CFD or wind tunnel work. They also give the race team procedures to refine car builds and turnaround times for new parts.
Ferrari’s approach ties each outing to a specific goal. Mugello’s SF-25 mileage supports driver training and offers a steady stream of data to inform the current car’s direction. Fiorano’s wet program targets stability and predictability when grip is low. Monza’s filming run focuses on validation of the Miami package, including rear wing concepts and associated aero items. If the results match expectations, Ferrari can lock in specifications and prepare spares ahead of freight deadlines for the U.S.
The wider aim sits against the known benchmark of Mercedes. Ferrari wants to narrow that performance gap with measured steps on and off the track. The April window makes those steps faster by moving tests into real conditions instead of waiting for the next race weekend. The Miami upgrade is the first marker for this push. The team’s schedule sets the sequence to get there: baseline and training at Mugello, variable-condition checks at Fiorano, and a final on-track look at Monza before the freight leaves for the United States.