F1 2026: Ferrari to test at Monza as huge upgrades expected for Miami Grand Prix

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Ferrari

Ferrari to test at Monza as huge F1 upgrades expected for Miami Grand Prix

Ferrari have had a good start to the 2026 season

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 2 April 2026 19:43 Updated: 20:16

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Ferrari upgrades are coming for the F1 Miami Grand Prix, and they are set to take to the Monza track to test them out, according to reports in Italian media.

The Maranello-based outfit have been consistently the second-fastest team on the grid so far in 2026, behind the dominant Mercedes outfit but able to claim a podium at all three grands prix so far.

But the recent Japanese Grand Prix saw another Mercedes-powered team in McLaren witness a bit of a revival, with Oscar Piastri finishing second to claim his first points of the season, and 2025 world champion Lando Norris in fifth, ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

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Hamilton has warned that Ferrari risk going backwards in 2026 unless they can find a way to make their power unit more competitive compared to the Mercedes power units which power Mercedes, McLaren, Alpine and Williams in 2026.

It's been revealed that Ferrari are set to bring upgrades to the Miami GP which will see a deeply revised and improved software for managing the electrical charge being introduced, which should help the drivers to limit the effects of super clipping on the straights.

With the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) period not coming until the end of the Monaco GP weekend, there are limited changes that Ferrari can make to their power unit, but Gazzetta are reporting that this is a significant move for the Maranello-based outfit.

The above publication have also stated that Ferrari are going to test out the new software at the Monza circuit in a filming day on April 21. That's because the home of the Italian GP is particularly demanding in terms of energy recovery, and so the track represents a good test for the new software.

Can Ferrari catch Mercedes in 2026?

These upgrades - and the potential changes being made as part of the ADUO period in June - are all part of Ferrari's plan to try and catch the Mercedes team in 2026.

While a championship battle looks to be a stretch, the Maranello-based outfit want to be in the fight for race wins at every circuit, and are looking to avoid a second consecutive grand prix winless season.

Mercedes are having to alter their power units from the Monaco GP onwards to get rid of a now outlawed geometric compression ratio trick, and that's believed to be worth around 0.3 seconds per lap.

The Brackley-based outfit have a comfortable 45-point lead at the top of the constructors' championship, but that's by no means unassailable if Ferrari can get their act together and make significant improvements to their power unit and SF-26.