In Japan, Ferrari makes some modifications to the SF-26, awaiting the major update package planned for Miami. The changes concern the brake cooling ducts, which the team confirms is paying more attention to than in the past, and the fairing of the front floor support. Contrary to initial plans, however, the inverted mobile wing is missing, as are the flaps on the halo pillar.
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Updates for Japan
Ferrari takes advantage of the low severity of the Japanese track for the braking system, introducing new cooling ducts for the front axle, narrowed in the outlet section. The objective is to mitigate the harmful impact of hot air on the rear aerodynamics of the car, but sometimes innovations in this area are also accompanied by modifications to the internal baskets, without the obligation to declare them, as they are not visible. In the past, however, the Maranello Scuderia was among those that invested the least in this field, despite it being very important for managing tire temperatures. The Prancing Horse now seems to have changed its approach, having also adjusted the cooling ducts on the SF-25 during last week’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
At Suzuka, the SF-26 also features a new fairing for the front floor strut, reshaped to better manage local aerodynamic flows. In any case, these are small interventions, awaiting the more important updates in the pipeline for Miami. The Scuderia had planned to introduce the first evolution package in Bahrain, but the cancellation of April races forced them to postpone plans to Florida, trying to also anticipate some of the developments initially scheduled for Canada.
No Macarena
The Italian single-seater is missing the innovations seen in China. Ferrari avoided installing flaps on the central halo pillar, fearing that someone might question their legality and file an official protest. Also absent is the inverted mobile rear wing, or Macarena as friends call it. In Japan, the team planned to use it for the entire weekend, but then changed plans. It is not ruled out that the Scuderia could use the remaining kilometers available for the filming day to fine-tune the Macarena, as it is a component already used in a race weekend and not an update.
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