The SF-26 presented at Fiorano: the shiny red and white return as in the cars of Lauda and Regazzoni. Technical revolution: lighter machine and a new generation of power unit
Here you are the new Ferrari SF-26, that of the redemption of 2026 after a 2025 to forget, on the Fiorano track the Cavallino took away the veils from the car that makes the many Red fans around the world dream. Still and always alongside the Maranello cars though Since 2008 Ferrari has not won the constructors’ championship and the drivers’ championship since the year before with Mika Hakkinen. A life in the world of motors, but it is above all the last season that has depressed the Ferrari people and also the drivers questioned by the shareholder Elkann well beyond their demerits. That it was the black year for Lewis Hamilton there’s no doubt, but Charles Leclerc fought like a lion despite his car being significantly inferior to Verstappen’s Mc Laren and Red Bull. Now we start again, with new regulations, a new car and many hopes. the new single-seater with which the team will face the Formula 1 World Championship, which is scheduled to begin on March 8 in Australia. The car, the 72nd created by the Maranello company for the top automotive category, opens a new regulatory cycle which marks the beginning of a completely new phase for F1, which will be characterized by lighter cars, a profound rethinking of aerodynamic concepts and a new generation of power units.
The technical innovations
From a technical point of view, the SF-26 represents a break with the recent past: the chassis abandons ground effect for one philosophy oriented towards maximum efficiency and weight reduction and the integration of active aerodynamics it is a key element of the new design. Aesthetically it is there the return to shiny red and especially white reminiscent of the Ferraris of the 70s by Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni. But the challenge to relaunch Ferrari lies in the new engine: the new power unit eliminates the MGU-H and enhances the MGU-K up to 350 kW, drastically increasing the weight of the electrical component.
Vasseur’s optimism
The team principal of Ferrari Vasseur presented the new season like this: “The SF-26 marks the beginning of a new cycle for Formula 1 and for Ferrari which proposes, in the same year, new rules for the chassis, for the power unit, new fuels and tires with different characteristics. This car is the result of great team work and marks the beginning of a completely new path, built on different rules which sees all competitors having to deal with quite a few unknowns. The team is aligned and more united than ever ahead of the season ahead. From next week in Barcelona we will begin the work of understanding and validating the car. In this first phase the priority will be to learn as much as possible and start building solid foundations on which to work ahead of the start of the season.“
Leclerc stimulated
Charles Leclerc promises maximum commitment as always, or rather even something more: “The 2026 rules require even more in-depth preparation, especially for us drivers. There are many new systems to understand and make the most of, and we have worked hard on this since the initial stages of the project’s development. In my years with Scuderia Ferrari HP we have already experienced important regulatory changes together: we know how complex the challenge is, but we are working with great motivation to arrive on the track as prepared as possible. Energy and power unit management will be one of the most significant aspects, a stimulating challenge that will require a rapid adaptation process from us riders, which initially relies more on instinct and then on an ever-increasing use of precise data. The support of the fans this season will be particularly strong: it is what makes Ferrari so special and pushes us to always give our best.“
And Hamilton raises
Who knows that he has to make amends, so much so Lewis Hamilton, whose hiring last season was highly criticized due to the poor results obtained by the Englishman with the Maranello car: “2026 represents a huge challenge for everyone: it is probably the biggest regulatory change I have experienced in my career. When we enter a new era like this, everything revolves around development, the ability to grow as a team and do it in the same direction. As a driver, it was a particularly intriguing challenge to be able to be involved from the beginning in the development process of such a different car, working with the engineers to define a shared direction. It will be an extremely important year from a technical point of view, in which the driver’s role will be central in managing energy, new systems and contributing to understanding the machine. It is a challenge that we face together, as a team, also counting on the extraordinary support of the fans, which means a lot to all of us.“
