How Ferrari and McLaren keep pushing F1 development

Ferrari and McLaren kept developing at Silverstone even without major upgrade packages, introducing parts tuned for the British GP low-drag demands while others were straight development pieces. That push helped Ferrari offset Mercedes power through aerodynamic efficiency, and Maranello now plans a Spa-specific gamble that may drop its pioneering Flick Tail Mode exhaust flap for the first time.

Key Takeaways

• Ferrari and McLaren pressed on at Silverstone while rivals brought bigger one-off upgrades elsewhere on the calendar.
• Ferrari SF-26 aerodynamic efficiency cut electrical energy use and limited Mercedes clipping advantage.
• For Spa, Ferrari may sacrifice its FTM exhaust flap to recover roughly seven horsepower on long straights.
• McLaren brought both low-drag Silverstone updates and straight development pieces.
• Spa still exposes Ferrari peak-power deficit versus Mercedes despite improved top speeds.

Why did Ferrari and McLaren keep developing at Silverstone?

According to Formula 1 technical analysis from Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola, Silverstone did not see the blockbuster upgrades delivered elsewhere in 2026, including Mercedes in Montreal, Ferrari at Barcelona and Red Bull in Austria. Both Ferrari and McLaren were still pressing on with developments.

Some updates were specifically tailored around the low-drag demands of the British Grand Prix track. Others were straight development pieces.

How did Ferrari Silverstone work change the title fight?

RacingNews365 technical analyst Paolo Filisetti noted the Silverstone weekend left little doubt Ferrari arrived far better prepared than many anticipated. Across qualifying, the Sprint and the grand prix, the SF-26 demonstrated efficiency and balance that allowed it to very nearly match the Mercedes W17.

Silverstone particular challenge lies in energy deployment and recovery. Managing the battery recharge cycle around such an aerodynamically demanding circuit played directly into Ferrari hands, offsetting the raw power advantage Mercedes carries. The W17 spent a noticeably longer period in the clipping phase than the SF-26, allowing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to preserve electrical energy where it mattered most.

The SF-26 aerodynamic efficiency was the key factor, allowing Ferrari to use less electrical energy per lap and avoid performance compromises from extended clipping. Under race conditions, the car balance also kept tyre graining largely in check through Silverstone rapid direction changes.

Will Ferrari sacrifice its signature SF-26 feature at Spa?

Heading to the Belgian Grand Prix on July 17-19, Ferrari faces a different challenge. F1 Oversteer reports the Scuderia is set to scrap the Flick Tail Mode exhaust flap it pioneered for the first time, fearing it will hold Hamilton and Leclerc back on Spa long straights.

Ferrari technical director Loic Serra is ready to sacrifice the extra downforce the FTM generates from the rear wing to recover horsepower the system costs. Blanking the lower part of the exhaust exit is estimated to cost Ferrari seven horsepower, a significant penalty from La Source through Eau Rouge and Raidillon to Les Combes, and again from Stavelot through Blanchimont to the Bus Stop chicane.

The team already gathered data when test driver Dino Beganovic ran without the FTM during FP1 in Austria. The exhaust flap remains very beneficial on medium-to-high downforce circuits and has played an essential role in the SF-26 cornering performance, but the Scuderia will adopt a low-downforce set-up for Spa.

Can Ferrari strengths still translate at Spa?

Filisetti argues Spa-Francorchamps presents a very different layout, but Ferrari strengths could still translate. The Raidillon-to-Les Combes run and the Stavelot-to-Bus Stop sequence will test energy management, while Rivage, Pouhon and Fagnes will probe car balance during the power unit recovery cycle.

The longer straights at Spa will inevitably expose the Ferrari power unit deficit in peak power relative to Mercedes, and that remains the clearest obstacle between Maranello and another strong result. Nevertheless, the top speeds recorded at Silverstone reinforced how much ground the SF-26 aerodynamic efficiency can recover.

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