Ferrari received important support for its development strategy in the 2026 Formula 1 season. A survey conducted by RacingNews365 showed that more than half of the participants consider the method adopted by the Italian team the most effective among the four main teams.
In 2026, Ferrari has followed a policy of frequent updates on the SF-26, constantly bringing new parts to the car. The team defines the approach as ‘small and frequent,’ and maintains that the pace of component introduction does not mean having prematurely exceeded the season’s financial limit.
The Italian strategy contrasts mainly with that adopted by McLaren. The current constructors’ champion focused the development of the MCL40 on two major packages, the most recent introduced at the Hungarian GP, an update that helped Lando Norris secure his first win of the season. The team intends to maintain this philosophy in the championship’s resumption in the Netherlands, although small updates are also planned.
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Meanwhile, Mercedes planned its development with greater emphasis on the second half of the year. Toto Wolff explained that the ‘measured’ strategy will combine larger and smaller updates in the upcoming stages, while the team and Kimi Antonelli seek to preserve their advantages in the two title battles. Red Bull Racing adopted an intermediate approach, alternating some larger developments with smaller changes introduced more frequently.
Although the number of Ferrari updates may give the impression of a higher investment or greater progress, the analysis highlights that different philosophies do not automatically allow the conclusion that the team spent more or evolved more than the competing teams. Still, when fans were asked which method would be best, more than half of the RacingNews365 survey participants, precisely 52.38%, chose Ferrari, giving the team a comfortable advantage over McLaren and Mercedes.
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