By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux

This weekend’s United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) could provide Ferrari with a crucial opportunity to boost performance.

The Scuderia is preparing what is expected to be its final major aerodynamic upgrade of the season, with engineers in Maranello, under chassis technical director Loïc Serra, working on a new floor, revised sidepods and changes to the radiator intakes and bodywork.

However, completing the package in time for Austin may prove challenging, and some components could be delayed until the Mexico City GP.

The new floor is expected to be central to the development. Ferrari’s objective is to generate the same or greater downforce while allowing the SF-26 to operate with a less rigid suspension set-up. This could widen the car’s operating window, making it less sensitive to changes in ride height and track conditions while giving Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc greater confidence in extracting its performance.

Revised sidepods and radiator intakes could also improve aerodynamic efficiency.

COTA, with its fast, opening sequence, technical middle sector and long straights, will provide a demanding test of the revised package.

With development resources increasingly shifting towards 2027, this may represent one of its last significant opportunities for Ferrari to close the gap to its principal rivals.