Charles Leclerc tests new Ferrari winglet concept at Monza after F1 rivals failed to get it banned

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Charles Leclerc was seen with a new version of Ferrari’s Halo winglet design at Monza this Wednesday, as the Scuderia tested their upgrades for the 2026 Miami Grand Prix.

Ferrari have utilised the break in the 2026 F1 calendar due to the cancellations of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to hire the home of the Italian Grand Prix for a filming day. The Scuderia viewed Monza as the ideal track to test the upgrades they intend to run in Miami.

Monza is even expected to be one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for managing the battery this year, due to the increased role that it plays in the 2026 engine formula. Ferrari proposed that F1 held a joint test at Monza, as well, to avoid the 200km total distance limit.

Ultimately, Ferrari elected to directly share their 200km (124m) distance allowance between their drivers on Wednesday. Leclerc was the first driver to hit the circuit, as he ventured out just before 11:00 local time, before Lewis Hamilton took over in the SF-26 for the afternoon.

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Charles Leclerc spotted testing Ferrari’s Halo winglet during a filming day at Monza

Ferrari tested an array of aerodynamic upgrades at Monza, as the Scuderia bid to verify their simulations ahead of debuting the new parts at the Miami Grand Prix on May 1-3. The pride of Italy moved to avoid the extra challenge of introducing updates on an F1 Sprint weekend.

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One of the aero upgrades that Leclerc was seen testing during Ferrari’s filming day at Monza was an updated version of their small winglet for the base of the Halo, according to GPBlog. Ferrari have refined the fins that they first trialled during practice at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Scuderia believe the small fins on either side of the Halo support arm can clean up the airflow around the cockpit and direct it towards the air intake and rear bodywork. Ferrari’s engineers also believe it can deliver a ‘small’ aerodynamic gain, ‘particularly’ at high speed.

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Leclerc testing a new version of Ferrari’s Halo winglet during their filming day at Monza also suggests that the Scuderia now feel confident running the part at a race. Ferrari briefly had the Halo winglet on Leclerc’s car in China, but neither he nor Hamilton raced with the part.

It was said that Ferrari did not race their Halo winglet in China as a rival team threatened to lodge a formal protest over its legality. Although, it was also reported that the FIA has given the Scuderia permission to use the winglet in the future without the risk of it being banned.