Adrian Newey started sketching Ferrari’s front wing when he saw it for the first time on the F1 grid

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Adrian Newey was seen sketching Ferrari’s front wing while standing on the grid at the opening round of the 2026 F1 season.

Newey was present at pre-season testing in Bahrain but he only attended one of the first three races – the Australian GP. He isn’t expected to fly to Miami this weekend either.

Newey has frequently been seen studying rival cars over the years, but he has had a limited opportunity to do so this year as he focuses on resolving the Aston Martin crisis at their UK factory instead.

F1 is back but which team will have made the biggest step forward since Japan?

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Adrian Newey took inspiration from Ferrari’s 2026 front wing

As he revealed on the Howie Games podcast, Tom Clarkson saw Newey doing a detailed drawing of the Ferrari front wing in Melbourne.

Newey spent 15 minutes glued to the Ferrari and Clarkson spotted exactly what had caught his eye.

There’s a school of thought that Ferrari have built the best chassis to start the 2026 season, with their engine deficit preventing them from winning races.

• READ MORE: Aston Martin are the only F1 team using Michael Schumacher-era suspension thanks to Adrian Newey

The Scuderia have had a car on the podium in each of the first three Grands Prix, scoring 90 points so far. The SF-26 is markedly more innovative than recent Ferrari entrants, though it’s the rear of the car – and specifically the lesser-spotted ‘Macarena’ rear wing – that has generated most intrigue.

Clarkson said: “Adrian was there with his famous notebook. I actually caught up with him. He was stood next to the Ferrari, sketching. He was actually sketching the front wing or something on the front wing.

“As soon as he saw me approach with the camera, the notebook slammed shut!”

What upgrades are Ferrari planning for the Miami Grand Prix?

Virtually every team is expected to bring significant upgrades to Miami after the extended post-Japan break. But given that they have been the nearest challengers to Mercedes so far, the Ferrari is likely to attract the most photographers.

Ferrari are expected to bring almost ‘half’ a new car to Florida. There will be a new version of the front wing that Newey admired, as well as tweaks to the halo aero, side edge and underbody.

• READ MORE: Ferrari staff believe their Miami Grand Prix upgrade will change the ‘script’ of the 2026 F1 season

The aforementioned Macarena ring could also make its first appearance in competitive sessions after private testing at Jerez.

Ferrari’s 2026 car is finally ‘complete’ in the opinion of Loic Serra and his aerodynamicists. As such, their performance in Miami will be a clear indicator of their prospects for the rest of the season.