Ferrari readies final major upgrade for Austin

Frederic Vasseur’s reluctance to declare Red Bull definitively Formula 1’s new benchmark now looks significant, with Ferrari preparing a substantial final upgrade of the season for Austin.

Italian reports say the SF-26 will receive a new floor, revised sidepods and bodywork at the US Grand Prix, with some weight reduction also expected.

It is set to be Ferrari’s last major aerodynamic package before attention switches fully to the 2027 car.

When asked after Singapore whether Red Bull had now become the team to beat following Max Verstappen’s back-to-back wins, Vasseur replied: "Not sure."

"Honestly, they are doing very well, but it’s not the only team to beat," Vasseur added.

"If you look at the McLaren and Mercedes, if you have a look from the beginning of the season, Mercedes was flying."

"Then we won two races, then McLaren won two races, then Red Bull won two or three."

It has been a defining feature of 2026, with upgrades repeatedly reshuffling the competitive order far more dramatically than in recent seasons.

As Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies said recently: "You have seen how much the pecking order is anyhow changing with the timing of the updates."

Indeed, Vasseur continued: "If someone is bringing upgrades next week, the classification can change."