News Summary
- Ferrari has unveiled special race suits for Hamilton and Leclerc ahead of the United States Grand Prix on October 23–25.
- The new designs feature significantly more white and matching white racing shoes, contrasting with the team’s traditional predominantly red appearance.
- Ferrari has hinted at a possible special SF-26 livery, but has not yet officially confirmed a change to the car’s colours.
Ferrari has unveiled special race suits for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ahead of the 2026 United States Grand Prix, introducing a striking red-and-white design that has also fuelled speculation about a possible one-off livery for the SF-26 at Circuit of The Americas.
The Italian team revealed the new outfits on Monday, October 19, four days before Formula 1 returns to Austin. The most noticeable change is the increased use of white across the suits, creating a stronger contrast with Ferrari’s traditional red. Both drivers will also wear matching white racing shoes during the weekend.
The announcement follows a teaser released in collaboration with title sponsor HP, which suggested that Ferrari was preparing a special visual presentation for the American round. Details accompanying the drivers’ names have raised expectations that the changes could extend to the car itself, although no special SF-26 livery has been officially confirmed.
Ferrari changes Hamilton and Leclerc’s look for Austin
The new suits retain Ferrari’s familiar red identity but introduce larger white sections than those used during most of the 2026 season. The white racing shoes complete the design, giving Hamilton and Leclerc a different appearance for the United States Grand Prix.
The team has not announced whether the outfits will be used beyond Austin, with the presentation focused specifically on the American race weekend.
Ferrari has increasingly used selected Grands Prix to introduce special visual designs, often connected to historic achievements, commercial partnerships or major events.
At Monza earlier this season, the manufacturer paid tribute to Michael Schumacher with a special car livery and matching race suits. The initiative celebrated one of the most successful periods in Ferrari’s Formula 1 history.
Leclerc also wore an unusual all-black suit at Singapore, departing from the team’s traditional colours for the night race.
Austin will now provide another opportunity for Ferrari to introduce a distinctive appearance, with Hamilton and Leclerc appearing together in the new red-and-white design.
Is Ferrari preparing a special SF-26 livery?
The race-suit presentation has attracted additional attention because Ferrari previously released a cryptic teaser with HP ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
The promotional material suggested that an announcement was approaching, without revealing the complete details.
Visual elements accompanying the names of Hamilton and Leclerc have led to speculation that the SF-26 could receive a matching livery, potentially incorporating more white into its traditional red colour scheme.
However, the team has not confirmed the design of any revised car livery or announced when such a presentation might take place.
The distinction matters because the race suits are already official, while the possible changes to the SF-26 remain speculative.
Ferrari has previously introduced one-off designs at selected races, but the existence of special driver clothing does not necessarily mean the car will receive the same treatment.
Ferrari prepares major Austin upgrade as Mercedes leads F1
The visual changes come during an important weekend for Ferrari’s championship ambitions.
The Maranello team enters the United States Grand Prix second in the Constructors’ Championship with 444 points, trailing Mercedes by 134.
Hamilton and Leclerc delivered competitive performances at Singapore, where Leclerc finished second and Hamilton sixth, helping Ferrari outscore Mercedes for the second consecutive Grand Prix.
Despite those results, Ferrari remains under pressure to improve the SF-26’s consistency and challenge Red Bull and Mercedes more regularly.
The team is also preparing a substantial aerodynamic update for Austin, including a revised floor and changes to the sidepods and bodywork.
The new package is expected to be Ferrari’s final major aerodynamic development of 2026 before resources are increasingly directed towards next season.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO reported after Singapore, Leclerc acknowledged that the team’s previous updates had improved performance but were not yet sufficient to match Red Bull consistently.
Ferrari’s latest developments will therefore be evaluated at a circuit that combines long straights, high-speed direction changes and slower corners.
The championship resumes at Circuit of The Americas on October 23–25, with Hamilton and Leclerc aiming to build on Ferrari’s recent progress.
Readers can follow the latest team developments and race-weekend coverage through GRANDE PRÊMIO’s Formula 1 section.
