Canadian GP tests Ferrari updates against Mercedes’ dominance and McLaren’s evolution in F1

Ferrari seeks recovery in the Canadá GP to contain McLaren’s advance after frustration in Miami. The Italian team is trying to reverse the negative scenario of the last race in the 2026 Fórmula 1 championship. Performance in the Estados Unidos was below what was expected by the Maranello engineers. The Montreal circuit appears as the ideal scenario to check whether the new aerodynamic components work outside of factory simulations.

Mercedes won the last four stages of the season and maintains the isolated lead. McLaren also evolved and cut the gap in the table to just 16 points behind the Italians. The British team plans to take the second part of the new features presented in the previous round to the track.

Ajustes aerodynamics and power unit problems of the SF-26

A thorough analysis of the data collected in the previous race showed that no new part of the SF-26 model presented manufacturing defects. The central problem was harnessing the potential of the components. Engineers Diego Tondi and Franck Sanchez designed aerodynamic solutions under the supervision of Loic Serra to compensate for the current engine’s deficiencies.

The six-cylinder power unit, called 067/6, operates at high temperatures and has a direct disadvantage compared to competitors. The Italian engine produces between 22 and 25 horsepower less maximum power when compared to the Mercedes equipment. The car also faces chronic difficulties in the electrical energy recovery system during fast laps.

The technicians decided to use a blown exhaust system combined with a reverse wing. The objective is to reduce drag and guarantee greater final speed on the long straights of the Canadian circuit. The size of the radiant masses linked to heat dissipation has been reduced to optimize airflow in the body. Professionals try to avoid repeating the mistakes made in the design of the F14-T model of the 2014 season. Aquele championship ended with serious internal disagreements between the chassis constructors and the drivers.

Características of Montreal’s layout changes tire behavior

The Gilles Villeneuve circuit has characteristics of strong braking and rapid acceleration in short sections. The team’s preparation in the simulators indicated the car’s excellent behavior in the slower curves. Chassis traction on corner exits remains the current project’s strongest point. Performance on long straights still depends directly on the management of the hybrid power system.

The drivers struggled to keep the tires at optimum operating temperature throughout the weekend in Miami. Excessive wear compromised race pace with hard rubber compounds. The suspension and camber configuration was completely revised for the Montreal stage. The Canadian track demands high efficiency from the front brakes and stability on the curbs.

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Formato sprint adds extra pressure on teams’ work

The championship organizers have confirmed that the weekend at Montreal will feature the first short race of the season in this country. The new feature reduces the time available for drivers to find the ideal car setup before the official sessions. Competitors will only have a 60-minute free practice session to test the mechanical settings and new aerodynamic packages.

The introduction of ADUO rules allows for minor modifications to cars over the weekend. McLaren will install the remaining 40% of the upgrade package started at the last race. The Mercedes promises to feature new components capable of delivering up to three tenths of a second per lap.

The Italian team’s priorities in the América of the Norte are clear:

• Validar the airflow data obtained from the factory computers.
• Encontrar the ideal thermal balance for the heat engine.
• Corrigir hybrid system battery discharge mapping.
• Superar McLaren in direct competition for second place in the constructors’ world championship.
• Ajustar brake calibration to avoid wheel locking in chicanes.

Team leader Fred Vasseur argues that continuous development defines the champion, not performance in the opening stage. The manager trusts the work done in virtual simulation systems to guarantee a good starting point in the only free session on Friday.