Sunday (the 18th) was a day of anticipation for the United States Grand Prix in Formula 1, as Ferrari prepared important updates for Austin and Kimi Antonelli entered the next stage with the first mathematical chance to clinch the 2026 title. The day also brought new signals about Audi’s future, Ferrari, and the internal battle for sprint race performance.
Ferrari is set to bring a new floor to Austin as part of its latest major update of the season. The aim is to widen the SF-26’s operating window and allow less rigid configurations, while further changes to the sidepods and the car’s bodywork are expected for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The team remains second in the Constructors’ Championship and is trying to hold off rivals as the season nears its end.
Antonelli, for his part, arrives at the United States Grand Prix increasingly close to the title. The Italian stated that he intends to use the break days to recharge his batteries before Austin, where he will have his first mathematical opportunity to seal the championship.
Lewis Hamilton also pointed the way forward for Ferrari’s development. The seven-time world champion believes the team can still find meaningful gains by better understanding the behavior of Pirelli tires, an area he sees as crucial to extracting more performance from the car in the final stages.
Gabriel Bortoleto again demonstrated confidence in Audi’s project. The Brazilian highlighted that seeing a clear long-term plan within the team serves as motivation to keep working, at a moment of building toward the upcoming seasons.
Among other highlights, George Russell took the lead in an unofficial battle for sprint-race performance after the collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Singapore. Sacha Fenestraz also revealed the possibility of testing with an older Ferrari car in 2027, while Christian Horner returned to the budget cap debate and defended changes to the current rules.
