Ferrari surprised by disappointing data on their upgrades after what they saw in simulations

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Ferrari now see the 2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix as a make-up test for their upgrades, as the Scuderia’s updates performed worse in Miami than their simulations indicated.

No team took more upgrades to the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month than the Maranello natives, who unveiled a massive 11 updates at Hard Rock Stadium. Yet McLaren and Red Bull both usurped Ferrari to emerge as Mercedes’ main rivals, despite them starting off stronger.

McLaren driver Lando Norris won the F1 Sprint in Miami from pole position in a papaya one-two with Oscar Piastri. Norris and Piastri also joined Miami GP winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes on the podium, while Lewis Hamilton was ultimately the top Ferrari racer in P5.

Charles Leclerc spun while he was putting Piastri under pressure for P3 on the last lap of the Miami GP, before he then fell from P6 to P8 after a post-race penalty for cutting corners due to the damage from his spin. So, Ferrari are now eager to make amends at the Canadian GP.

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Ferrari see the Canadian GP as a chance to prove their Miami GP upgrades were not a failure

Ferrari see this weekend’s Canadian GP as a chance to demonstrate that their updates, after debuting a new front wing, floor, rear wing, diffuser and front and rear suspension parts last time out, can make the SF-26 quicker like their simulations suggested before going to Miami.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Canadian GP moments including Lewis Hamilton’s blunder

That is according to Motorsport.com, which reports that Ferrari have analysed the data from their updates in Miami and can ‘clearly’ see that no single update ‘failed’ to work. However, all of their updates performed far worse than Ferrari’s simulations had indicated they would.

Now, Ferrari will go to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve this weekend looking to demonstrate the true potential of their updates. Yet the Scuderia are also having to adapt their set-up for the circuit in Montreal, as it could expose their ‘endemic’ problems with recharging the battery.

The Scuderia expect the SF-26’s traction, which has been one of their car’s best assets so far in 2026, to benefit them. But Ferrari may sacrifice some of their acceleration capabilities for Hamilton and Leclerc to be able to recharge their batteries around a low-downforce track.

How successful Ferrari’s upgrades debuted in Miami now prove to be in Montreal could also prove to be very important for the mood in Maranello. After the Miami GP, reports emerged that the mood among Ferrari’s staff soured after being surpassed by McLaren and Red Bull.

It has also been suggested that Ferrari’s upgrades in Miami used a large amount of their cost cap budget for the season, despite yielding very little in terms of lap time. And with McLaren and Mercedes both set to have new updates in Canada, Ferrari may face a testing weekend.