Marco Rossi · F1 Correspondent
At the United States Grand Prix, drivers and machinery battle heat and bumps, while Ferrari sends its last major aero update of the season into action in Austin.
When Formula 1 visits the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, this weekend, there is more at stake than just points: with forecast track temperatures above 55 degrees Celsius and the circuit's notoriously bumpy surface, tyres, brakes and power units face a stern test. At the same time, all eyes in the paddock are on Ferrari, as according to Motorsport-Total the Scuderia brings its fourth and final major aerodynamic package of the season to the COTA weekend, aiming to close the gap to the front.
Heat and bumps: COTA as an endurance test
The Circuit of the Americas has always been regarded as one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, and this year that is likely to be even more pronounced. The expected heat on the asphalt pushes cooling systems and hybrid power units to their limits, while the notoriously uneven surface in the Texas hill country adds high mechanical stress on suspension and floor.
For the engineers, that means a balancing act: a stiff setup brings aerodynamic advantages in the technical first sector with its fast sequences of corners, but risks instability and premature tyre wear over the bumps. Whoever finds the right balance between efficiency and compliance here should have the edge on Sunday.
Ferrari's last major update for the SF-26
Ferrari is at the centre of technical interest. For the Grand Prix in Austin, the Scuderia has prepared an extensive update package that includes, among other things, a revised floor, modified inlets and sidepods and an adapted engine cover, as Motorsport-Total reported. The aim of the new floor is more downforce and a better aerodynamic balance, while the changes to the sidepods and cooling outlets are meant to reduce drag.
The package serves a dual purpose for Ferrari. In the short term it is meant to deliver performance in Austin straight away; in the long term it is likely to serve the team around technical director Loïc Serra as an important correlation check between wind tunnel and track for the development of next season's car. How well that correlation works could already show in the long-run times this weekend.
Tight on track, clear in the standings
In the Constructors' Championship, the picture before Austin is clearer than the races suggest: Ferrari is second with 444 points, 134 behind Mercedes and around 105 ahead of McLaren. On track, however, the four top teams are so close together that even small technical steps can make the difference.
Charles Leclerc played down expectations at media day in Austin. "They are not really major upgrades. I have heard a lot about them, but they are not as significant as people are saying. It is a small step in the right direction," he told F1inGenerale. On paper, Leclerc said, the pecking order of recent races should not change, but he expects a very close fight among the four top teams.
Should the new parts work as hoped straight away on the hot COTA asphalt, Ferrari should have a good chance of closing the gap to Mercedes on track. Whether that is enough to fight for victory on Sunday will only become clear in direct comparison with the leading teams on track.
