Ferrari to return to track as it takes advantage of unplanned F1 break with key tests

Ferrari is set to capitalise on F1’s unplanned break in April by conducting a pair of on-track tests.

F1 is now entering a five-week hiatus from racing following the cancellation of the Middle East double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing Iran war.

Unlike the August summer shutdown, there will be no mandatory period in which teams have to stop working at their factories.

This will allow teams to continue development work on their 2026 challengers and carry out important learnings of the new regulations.

With three grands prix worth of data to pour over and study, this could be a crucial time for teams to work out how to catch up to current benchmark Mercedes.

As well as focusing on future developments, teams will use the time to carry out tests on the simulator and tasks like pit stop practice.

Among those leading the chasing pack hunting down Mercedes is Ferrari, who has started the 2026 season as the second-best team.

According to reports, Ferrari has scheduled two tests for the April break.

The first is set to be held at its home circuit at Mugello with two days of TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) running beginning on Wednesday 1 April.

Race drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will not be in action. Instead, Ferrari’s test and simulator drivers Antonio Giovinazzi, Arthur Leclerc, and Antonio Fuoco will conduct the valuable track running.

F1 teams previously had to complete TPC tests with cars that were at least two years old, but because the previous ground-effect machines have nothing in common with the new 2026 generation, Ferrari will be able to use its SF-25.

Ferrari will then head to Monza, the home of the Italian Grand Prix, for another test which is scheduled to take place on either 21 April or 22 April.

This will be Ferrari’s second permitted filming day in which the team’s current challenger, the SF-26, can complete up to 200km of running.

Leclerc and Hamilton will be behind the wheel for the filming day at Monza.

This test will not only be used for commercial purposes, but will also provide Ferrari with some key learning and data about its energy recovery systems.

Monza is one of the venues that is set to be one of the worst on the calendar for energy management under the 2026 regulations due to its long, flat-out straights and minimal heavy braking zones.

Ferrari is also set to evaluate key aerodynamic updates ahead of their planned introduction at the next F1 race in Miami.

These are understood to include the Italian outfit’s dubbed ‘Macarena’ wing, which was removed from the SF-26 after being tested in free practice at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Providing all goes well, an updated version of Ferrari’s unique rear wing solution should then debut at the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May.

Ferrari will also take part in a Pirelli wet-weather tyre test at Fiorano on 9-10 February. This will replace the planned Bahrain test which was postponed due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Ferrari is not the only team in action this week, with Red Bull staying out at Suzuka following last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix to conduct some tyre testing for Pirelli with Yuki Tsunoda on Tuesday and Wednesday.