Ferrari have sparked curiosity among its fans after teasing an upcoming announcement ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, although the Italian team have yet to reveal exactly what they have planned.

The Maranello-based outfit shared a mysterious teaser on social media in collaboration with title sponsor HP, hinting that something could be unveiled ahead of the race weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, scheduled for 23-25 October.

The short promotional video offers few concrete details, leaving fans guessing about the nature of the announcement. One possibility is a special livery for the SF-26, as the car can be seen in the background of the video, partially obscured by darkness, although Ferrari have not confirmed whether any changes to its appearance are planned.

Ferrari arrive in Austin after a Singapore Grand Prix in which Charles Leclerc finished second behind Max Verstappen. The Monegasque came particularly close to securing pole position, missing out by just 0.054 seconds in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton also enjoyed a strong Saturday, securing third place on the grid and putting both Ferraris in a promising position ahead of the race.

Photo: Race Pictures

In Sunday's Grand Prix, Leclerc was unable to convert his front-row start into victory, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag ahead of the Ferrari driver. Hamilton, meanwhile, paid the price for a costly strategic mistake after deciding to ignore Ferrari's instructions during a Virtual Safety Car period.

The seven-time world champion started on medium tyres before switching to softs on lap 19, but when the VSC was deployed on lap 39, he missed the pit entry despite being called in by the team. He then chose to stay out in an attempt to preserve track position and complete the race without another stop.

The decision backfired in the closing stages, as Hamilton struggled with severe tyre degradation and lost positions to Kimi Antonelli, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, eventually finishing sixth. Leclerc, who followed Ferrari's instructions and pitted under the VSC, went on to secure second place. Hamilton subsequently apologised to the team and took full responsibility for the mistake, which cost Ferrari a potential double podium finish.

The Circuit of the Americas will present a different challenge for Ferrari compared to Singapore. The American venue features several high-speed corners, a long back straight and heavy braking zones, while its opening sector is particularly demanding due to the rapid changes of direction. The Scuderia will be hoping the SF-26 can perform well across these different sections after showing encouraging pace on the streets of Marina Bay.

Ferrari's main objective for the remainder of the season is to retain at least second place in the Constructors' Championship, with McLaren and, above all, Red Bull looking to close the gap.