Ferrari plans SF-26 filming day during April break to test power unit

Ferrari is planning to use the extended five-week break in the F1 2026 calendar to conduct a private filming day with its current SF-26 car. The session, aimed at gathering data and producing commercial content, is being considered for a high-speed circuit like Monza to specifically evaluate the team's new power unit performance. This comes as Ferrari seeks to understand and close the straight-line speed deficit to early-season dominator Mercedes.

Why it matters:

With two podium finishes but no win from the opening rounds, Ferrari's primary challenge is clear: matching Mercedes' power unit efficiency, particularly on the straights. A filming day at a demanding circuit provides a rare, regulation-compliant opportunity to test the car in a representative environment outside of a race weekend, offering valuable data to address this performance gap before the European season intensifies.

The Details:

• The extended break was created by the late cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, leaving a five-week gap between Japan and Miami.
• Ferrari has not yet used either of its two allotted seasonal filming days, which permit 200km of running per session with the current car.
• While Monza is speculated as the preferred location due to its high energy demands on the power unit, the team is still finalizing the venue.
• The day will serve a dual purpose: collecting technical data and generating fresh marketing material for partners, as current assets are largely from the January launch.
• Driver Feedback: Lewis Hamilton highlighted the straight-line speed issue in China, noting Mercedes' advantage seems strongest when they "open up the ESM" and that they have "a little bit more deployment" with less derating at the end of straights.

What's Next:

The data gathered from this filming day will be critical for Ferrari's development trajectory. If held at Monza, the focus will be on optimizing energy deployment and harvesting under the highest load conditions. Successfully translating any findings into performance gains will be essential for Ferrari to convert podium finishes into victories and mount a sustained challenge to Mercedes when the season resumes in Miami and beyond.