Ferrari are the only team out of the traditional front runners to bring upgrades to Shanghai, while other teams further down the grid have also made changes, including newcomers Audi and Cadillac.

Ferrari have started the season looking like the most likely challengers to Mercedes’ early dominance in 2026, and their P3 and P4 finish in the season opener in Melbourne may have been improved upon had it not been for questionable strategy decisions under two VSCs.

The new minor upgrade in question for Ferrari has been revealed in the FIA ‘Car Presentation Submissions’ as a winglet added to the halo pillar.

The FIA document notes it is not an upgrade specific to China, and will return a “small aerodynamic load benefit.”

Elsewhere, Audi have brought two new upgrades, an updated front wing flap and end plate - improving air flow characteristics through the car - as well as an updated nose design, which “allows a more efficient load extraction all along the slope.”

Racing Bulls have brought a modification to brake duct winglets, helping to improve flow management at the back of the car and around the rear tyre, while Haas have introduced a small winglet on top of the rear impact structure to “promote upwash,” improving aero characteristics and increasing load.

Cadillac have made trailing edge detail changes to their diffuser, increasing aerodynamic load both on the winglet cascade and overall at the rear, while a structural improvement, namely to the mirror, has also been introduced following the Australian GP.

For all of their early season upgrades, it is still assumed Mercedes are ahead of Ferrari in the pecking order, after a commanding one-two win in Australia.

Speaking to media in Shanghai, including GPblog, Lewis Hamilton was asked whether Mercedes' dominance was fundamental or possibly track dependent, with the Briton choosing to focus on his former team's straight line speed in particular.

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