Ferrari bring floor and diffuser upgrades to Sepang as Vasseur calls Baku "the most difficult circuit" for his team

Ferrari arrive in Malaysia hoping Sepang will suit their SF-26 better than Baku did. Team principal Fred Vasseur has promised more development, and reports say the Scuderia is bringing a set of aerodynamic updates for this weekend's Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

A tough weekend in Baku

Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Lewis Hamilton sixth in Azerbaijan. Mercedes won again, and Red Bull put two cars ahead of Leclerc. Leclerc was blunt about the gap. "We were quite far off Mercedes, far off Red Bull, a bit behind McLaren – these are our competitors and it's not new," he said, as reported by GPFans.

Vasseur would not give a timeline for the next steps. "I won't give you the date, but soon… We will do it as soon as possible," he said. He pointed out that Ferrari introduced aero updates at Zandvoort and a new engine specification at Monza.

What is reportedly new at Sepang

Ferrari-focused site Scuderia Fans, citing Italian technical sources, reports three changes for Sepang:

• Floor: a revised T-tray cover, which manages airflow at the front of the floor
• Diffuser: small winglets next to the outer diffuser to manage airflow between the floor, rear wheels and vortices
• Active wings: refinements to the hydraulic system that moves the front and rear wing flaps, with no change to the actuators

These are reported as an interim step before a bigger aero package planned for the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Ferrari has not published a full technical breakdown, so details will be confirmed when teams submit their official upgrade declarations to the FIA.

Vasseur: Sepang should suit us better

Vasseur sounded noticeably more optimistic about Malaysia. Asked by Speedweek whether Ferrari would be more competitive at Sepang, he said: "Probably more so than in Baku. I think Baku is the most difficult circuit of the season for us."

He also warned that pace alone won't be enough with the field this close. The team must get every part of the weekend right, he said, describing the Malaysian venue as "a very different challenge". Sepang's long back-to-back straights and hairpin, the humidity and the chance of thunderstorms could all affect the result. Vasseur has also said Ferrari "will continue to push until the last corner".

Hamilton's happy hunting ground

The return to Sepang means a lot to Hamilton. Malay Mail notes that he has five poles and one win at the circuit, the victory coming in 2014. "I always loved going to KL. Had lots of great experiences there with my previous team and the track is awesome," he told Sky Sports.

Leclerc has never raced at Sepang, so Friday practice is important for him to learn the circuit and test the new parts at the same time.

What to watch

Pay attention to Ferrari's long runs in Friday's second practice session. Tyre wear is expected to be high, and the updates are aimed at airflow around the floor and rear tyres, so race pace could show whether the changes have worked. Free Practice 1 starts on Friday, 2 October, and the race is on Sunday at 3pm Malaysian time.

Key takeaways

• Leclerc finished fourth and Hamilton sixth in Baku, behind Mercedes and Red Bull.
• Ferrari are reported to be bringing floor, diffuser and active-wing hydraulic updates to Sepang.
• Vasseur called Baku "the most difficult circuit of the season" for Ferrari and expects to be stronger in Malaysia.
• Hamilton has five poles and one win at Sepang, while Leclerc is making his race debut there.

FAQ

What upgrades are Ferrari bringing to Sepang? Reports point to a revised T-tray floor cover, diffuser winglets and refinements to the active-wing hydraulics.

Has Lewis Hamilton won at Sepang? Yes. He won the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix and has taken five poles at the circuit.

Is a bigger Ferrari upgrade coming? According to reports, a larger aerodynamic package is planned for the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Sources: GPFans, Speedweek, Scuderia Fans, Malay Mail, Sky Sports