Leclerc reveals defined program and hints at upcoming Ferrari updates in F1

Key takeaways

• Defined upgrade plan: Charles Leclerc confirmed that Ferrari has a clear, aggressive development program for the second half of the season, covering engine power, chassis, and aerodynamics.
• Correlated data: Leclerc highlighted that unlike previous car generations, Ferrari has faced no major unpleasant surprises between wind tunnel data and real track performance in 2026.
• Championship position: Sitting fourth in the Drivers’ standings, Leclerc aims to build on his British GP victory as Ferrari continues its push from second place in the Constructors’ Championship.

With further upgrades on the horizon for the second half of the 2026 season, Ferrari is concentrating its efforts not only on the power unit, but also on essential areas of the SF-26 involving the chassis and aerodynamics. The confirmation came from Charles Leclerc during Thursday’s (20) press conference in Zandvoort, where the Monegasque driver made it clear that the team “knows where it wants to go” thanks to a “defined program.”

Ferrari has been among the most proactive teams in bringing updates during the opening part of the World Championship, notably introducing major packages at the Miami and Spanish Grands Prix — the latter resulting in a victory for Lewis Hamilton. The rapid progress even drew comments from rivals like Mercedes, who hinted at potential budget cap pressures for the Italian team.

However, Leclerc clarified to journalists that everything brought to the track so far aligns strictly with their planned schedule. “There is a very clear development program, and there are still many things we want to improve,” he emphasized.

“For me, it became clear what our main limitations were in the first part of the season: obviously, the engine — and the power output we currently have compared to Mercedes and Red Bull — is where we are furthest behind, so we are focusing our efforts there. However, we have one team dedicated to the engine and another to the chassis and aerodynamics, where we work on very distinct aspects,” he added.

“The program is already defined. We know where we want to go, and that is a positive thing. I don’t think we faced any major unpleasant surprises in the first half of the season, unlike previous generations of cars where excessive ground contact made things very difficult. Sometimes, we couldn’t replicate track results in the wind tunnel,” he explained.

“We haven’t had that problem this year, which is very positive for development and future innovations we plan to introduce to the car. So, while I can’t go into specific details about what we are working on or aiming to achieve, we certainly have a well-defined plan,” Leclerc assured.

Leclerc also praised the work being done at Maranello and pointed to the innovations already delivered on track. “It shows we are doing everything possible to find solutions within the regulations,” he noted when discussing what he described as an “aggressive approach” compared to past years.

“The work done is really impressive, and the plan is quite aggressive for introducing updates. I believe the production team did an incredible job in the first half of the season, working at maximum capacity to ensure we received components as quickly as possible. That makes a huge difference in a year like this, where we are in an early stage of development and every update has a significant impact. We will continue pushing to the maximum in the second half of the season,” Leclerc concluded.

Like Hamilton, Leclerc also claimed a win this year at the British Grand Prix. He currently holds fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship with 138 points, while Ferrari ranks second in the Constructors’ standings with 307 points.

Formula 1 returns this weekend, from August 21 to 23, for the Dutch Grand Prix — the 12th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all the track action live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Keep up with the latest updates on our news page.

Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. What are Ferrari’s main areas of focus for upgrades in the second half of 2026?

Ferrari is targeting power unit performance output to close the gap on rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull, alongside parallel developments on the SF-26 chassis and aerodynamic package.

2. Has Ferrari experienced correlation issues with its wind tunnel data in 2026?

No. Charles Leclerc confirmed that unlike previous car generations, Ferrari’s track performance has correlated cleanly with wind tunnel and simulation data throughout the 2026 season.

3. How is Ferrari performing in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship?

Ferrari currently holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship with 307 points, supported by race victories from both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.