Ferrari are set to introduce a floor update at the 2026 F1 United States Grand Prix this week at COTA in Texas that the Scuderia hope will remove one weakness of the SF-26.

The Maranello crew have identified the Circuit of the Americas as the ideal track for them to introduce what is likely to be their last major update package of the season. Ferrari are keen to end 2026 strongly as F1 finishes the year with two triple headers in the next seven weeks.

Ferrari expect a lot from their upgrades at COTA, as their new floor is only set to be one part of their package that also includes updated sidepods and radiator intakes. However, it is said that Ferrari are rushing to get their upgraded sidepods to COTA, and might have to wait until the Mexico City Grand Prix next weekend to then complete their desired upgrade package.

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Ferrari’s COTA floor upgrade is designed to fix the SF-26’s vulnerability in high-speed corners

Ferrari chassis technical director Loic Serra and his team are working hard to ensure that the pride of Italy can have their new sidepods at the United States GP. The Scuderia believe their upgrades can provide Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with more downforce, but without carrying extra drag, along with widening the SF-26’s operating window over the final rounds.

A lot of hope has also been built around Ferrari’s floor upgrade for the United States GP, as it is expected to mitigate how the SF-26 is ‘decidedly more vulnerable’ in faster corners than in the slower turns. The SF-26 has often proven itself to be one of the best cars on the grid this term in slow corners due to how much downforce Ferrari carry, but high-speed is a problem.

That is according to RacingNews365, which reports that Ferrari are eager to win at least one more Grand Prix before the end of the 2026 F1 season. Yet the Scuderia also have their eyes on 2027, as the updates they will introduce at COTA are likely to influence next season’s car.

Ferrari have used the data that Hamilton and Leclerc produced across the last two rounds at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and the Singapore Grand Prix to refine their upgrades for the United States GP. The Scuderia feel their results at Sepang and Marina Bay offered proof that the SF-26 needed changes that will redistribute the downforce with a new aero profile.

Hamilton charged through the field during the Bahrain GP in Malaysia to finish in P3, as the Briton recovered from starting the race on slick tyres in the rain. Leclerc also finished in P4 at Sepang, and went on to finish the Singapore GP in P2 while Hamilton fell to P6 due to his decision to ignore Ferrari’s order to pit under the virtual safety car and set his own strategy.

The streets of Singapore did not test Ferrari’s difficulties in high-speed corners, though, but COTA is a very different challenge. The Circuit of the Americas’ first sector, in particular, will punish Ferrari if Hamilton and Leclerc have any issues with the SF-26 in high-speed corners.