Scuderia Ferrari became the latest Formula 1 team to unveil its 2026 car, the SF-26, in a short video presentation ahead of a shakedown at its Fiorano test track.
The Italian outfit will conduct a shakedown at Fiorano, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on hand to complete the first laps of Ferrari’s new race car for the upcoming season.
The Scuderia is aiming to recover from a disappointing 2026 championship, in which it dropped to fourth in the constructors’ standings, with the main focus of its season being Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to Ferrari as he was unable to pick up a Grand Prix podium for the first time in his impressive career.
That left Leclerc to lead the battle for Ferrari, who took seven podiums across the year, to finish in fifth position in the drivers’ championship – just one spot ahead of Hamilton.
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur set an “aggressive” approach to development of the 2026 Formula 1 car, with final assembly planned to be completed on the eve of the launch and shakedown.
With the weight of expectation at an all-time high, it means it is set to be a make-or-break season for Ferrari and for Hamilton, who made the bold move to join the famous motor racing team twelve months ago.
Hamilton heads into the new Formula 1 season without the identity of his race engineer announced, after the recent news that Riccardo Adami will no longer serve in that role as he takes up a new position in Ferrari’s young driver programme.
To be honest, not keen on that white part on the engine cover for the sponsor HP and yet it pays the bills. Fingers crossed the SF-26 is competitive for Charles and Lewis to fight for the championship.
Social media:
https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2014647168850710916?
https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2014648331826315573?
Official website:
https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1
News stories:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/first-look-ferrari-reveal-new-sf-26-car-for-2026-f1-season.19b0ad82cdsyXgvA675Ey4
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/gallery-check-out-every-angle-of-ferraris-2026-f1-car.7HdOPtJJwN5VHJ8XAWVtuS
https://www.racefans.net/2026/01/23/first-pictures-ferrari-reveals-its-new-f1-car-for-2026/
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/ferrari-2026-f1-car-serrated-shark-fin-engine-cover/
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13497629/ferrari-sf-26-reveal-lewis-hamilton-charles-leclercs-2026-car-launched-as-italian-team-look-for-improved-season
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13497758/lewis-hamilton-ross-brawn-explains-his-hope-for-ferrari-driver-in-2026-f1-season-ahead-of-new-car-launch
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-unveils-2026-f1-car-at-fiorano/10792168/
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-shakes-down-2026-f1-car-at-fiorano/10792226/
Lewis Hamilton has detailed the key adaptations drivers will have to make in order to extract performance from the new 2026 cars, with the seven-time World Champion detailing the “massive challenge” ahead in the form of a redesigned power unit and aerodynamic changes.
Following an underwhelming first campaign with Ferrari that saw team mate Charles Leclerc outscore him by 86 points, the Briton will no doubt hope for an improved sophomore year with the recently unveiled SF-26.
Along with the scarlet red and white colour palette, the Scuderia’s latest challenger will be smaller, narrower and lighter than previous models as they fall in line with the new regulations, which Hamilton labelled as “monumental”.
“It’s the biggest regulation shift I think our sport has seen, at least in my time,” he said. “But every single time that it has been a shift into a new regulation it’s been a massive challenge.
“Everyone starts from scratch, so it really levels the playing field. Then it’s really all about development, who can develop faster, who comes up with the best ideas, and then a unified team growing at the same pace.”
While the next era could present Ferrari’s best opportunity to return to glory, having had close to two decades without a championship, the seven-time World Champion was eager to emphasise just how big a task this season could be.
He explained: “I mean, as drivers, we adapt, that’s what we do. It’s going to be a massive challenge this year, for sure, for every driver, to adapt to particularly the power unit. Whilst it’s still the V6, recharging this battery, the de-rates that you have, and really trying to understand how to utilise the power per straight, and recover the most and be the most efficient…
“This is the period of time where you have to learn to be the most efficient driver that you’ve ever been, and that’s utilising all the tools you have in your armoury as a driver to save fuel, to recharge, utilise the power, use the grip, and put all these things together.
“I think it’s going to take a lot of work from the engineers to communicate and help the drivers to be able to extract everything and its full potential.”
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/massive-challenge-hamilton-details-the-key-adaptations-drivers-will-have-to.1xCwpfn0JU0CacJnYNOx7Q