F1 2026 upgrades ranking: Ferrari leads while Mercedes falls to last

News summary

• Ferrari leads the 2026 F1 upgrades ranking with 40 new components, ahead of McLaren and Red Bull with 38 each.
• Mercedes and Williams have introduced the fewest total upgrades, with 24 components each during the season.
• Ferrari also leads the performance-upgrade ranking with 36 performance-focused components, while Mercedes and Audi have 19 each and Williams has 16.

Beyond the battle on track, the 2026 Formula 1 season has another key factor in the championship fight: the race to develop and upgrade the cars. A completely new set of regulations, combined with the cost cap, has forced teams to carefully consider which approach to take in order to remain competitive throughout the year. Mercedes is a clear example: despite dominating the opening races of the championship, the team now faces a real threat from McLaren and Ferrari after introducing relatively few upgrades to the W17, leaving it at the bottom of this particular ranking. On the other hand, the Italian team leads the way after bringing the largest number of new components.

According to an analysis by The Race, Mercedes and Williams are the teams that have introduced the fewest upgrades during the season, with 24 new components each. By contrast, Ferrari has brought the most upgrades, with 40 in total.

With no previous references under the new regulations, car development has become even more important in 2026. This is particularly evident with the Brackley-based team, which opted to invest more heavily in the initial design of its project in the hope of making a strong start to the championship. The strategy paid off initially, as the Silver Arrows comfortably won the first six GPs, allowing Andrea Kimi Antonelli to build a healthy lead at the top of the championship.

However, from the Spanish GP through the round in Zandvoort, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren have each won two races. The German team’s early-season dominance is becoming increasingly difficult to replicate, particularly as its rivals continue to introduce frequent upgrades.

An analysis of all upgrades declared to the FIA puts Ferrari at the top of the ranking, with 40 new components introduced from the season opener in Australia through the most recent round, the Dutch GP. The papaya team and Red Bull follow with 38 each. At the other end of the standings, the Silver Arrows share last place with Williams, with just 24 new components over the same period.

However, not every upgrade is designed to improve performance. Red Bull introduced nine upgrades aimed at improving reliability, while Ferrari reported none. When it comes to components introduced specifically for performance gains, the Maranello team leads again, with 36.

Aston Martin, which brought a major upgrade package to the Hungarian GP, sits second with 33, just ahead of McLaren, which has already developed the MCL40 with 30 new performance components since the opening race of the season. Mercedes, meanwhile, once again appears near the bottom, with 19, level with Audi and ahead of only Williams, which has introduced 16 performance upgrades in 2026.

Although Wolff has already admitted that Mercedes is struggling to invest in major upgrade packages for the W17 because of its limited budget, it is important to note that not all components cost the same. A new floor, for example, is considerably more expensive than a simple halo accessory.

While it is impossible to determine the exact figures, Aston Martin is estimated to have spent the most on development during the 2026 season, considering the scale of the upgrade package introduced at the Hungarian GP, which included a new chassis — an extremely expensive component. Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren follow, while Mercedes spent just over half as much as the Silverstone-based team.

The most striking aspect is the considerable gap between Mercedes and the other major teams — McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. Unlike its rivals, the German team has indeed invested significantly less, reinforcing Wolff’s comments about budget limitations.

However, there is a US$6 million allowance that can be used through 2028 to address potential issues related to the new regulations — US$3 million between 2026 and 2027 and the other half between 2027 and 2028. The variation was agreed upon and granted to teams because changes that will be made to the engines over the next two years could have an impact on chassis development.

In practice, this is also a strategic resource. A team, for example, could decide to use a significant portion of the additional budget by the end of the year and save the rest for 2027, but it would then have less financial room available for 2028.

Formula 1 returns this weekend, from September 4 to 6, at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO’s F1 coverage will follow all the action from the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 season. Fans can also check the Italian GP 2026 schedule and full Monza session times ahead of the weekend.

FAQ

1. Which F1 team has introduced the most upgrades in 2026?

Ferrari leads the overall ranking with 40 new components introduced during the 2026 season through the Dutch GP.

2. Which teams have introduced the fewest upgrades?

Mercedes and Williams are tied at the bottom with 24 upgrades each during the season.

3. Which F1 team has made the most performance upgrades?

Ferrari also leads this ranking, with 36 upgrades specifically aimed at improving performance, ahead of Aston Martin with 33 and McLaren with 30.