The secret behind Ferrari's straight-line boost at the Italian GP

Ferrari's home Grand Prix upgrades extend beyond the revised power unit and second-phase ADUO modifications. The Scuderia has introduced a clever aerodynamic change to its rear wing assembly, targeting the straight-line speed deficit that has frustrated Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc all season.

Why it matters:

Monza punishes drag and rewards top-end speed. Ferrari has been chasing the optimal compromise between downforce and efficiency, knowing that even a marginal power gain can pay dividends on the long straights. The team last stood on the top step at Monza in 2024 and is desperate to repeat that in front of the tifosi.

The details:

• The key modification centers on the FTM (flick tail mode) profile, which now features a wide vertical slit that splits the previously single profile into two distinct sections.
• This slit allows exhaust gases to flow more freely, exploiting intake and exhaust air pressures to deliver a slight increase in power at the highest engine speeds.
• A calculated trade-off: The smaller surface area of the modified FTM costs a small amount of downforce, but Ferrari's engineers believe the PU performance gain more than compensates on a circuit where power is king.
• No rear grip penalty: Despite the reduced downforce through the main rear wing profile, the team insists rear grip remains intact — the loss is minimal, and aerodynamic support on the rear axle stays high as speed builds.
• Early signs are positive: Hamilton and Leclerc locked out the top two spots in FP1, with Leclerc remaining in the fight at the front during FP2.

What's next:

Saturday's sessions will provide a clearer picture of how much performance Ferrari is extracting from its Monza package. As always, these modifications are compromise choices — but if the data holds up, the Scuderia could be in the mix for a home victory.