Ferrari has revealed its SF-26 car for the 2026 Formula 1 season, marking the start of a new regulatory era with significant changes to chassis and power units. The unveiling took place on January 23 at the team's Fiorano test track, followed by an initial shakedown run by drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Italian squad aims to rebound from a fourth-place finish in the 2025 constructors' standings.
On January 23, 2026, Scuderia Ferrari unveiled the SF-26, its 72nd Formula 1 car, at the Fiorano Circuit in Maranello, Italy. The launch coincided with the first shakedown laps, where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton piloted the new challenger under clear skies. This event signals the dawn of revamped regulations, including lighter vehicles, redesigned aerodynamics abandoning ground effects, and a hybrid power unit without the MGU-H, featuring a boosted 350 kW MGU-K.
Team principal Fred Vasseur described the SF-26 as the "beginning of a new era," emphasizing the team's unified effort amid the biggest regulatory overhaul in 25 years. "We put a lot of energy, time and effort on the 2026 project," Vasseur said. "Everybody probably took a different direction, different path." Chassis technical director Loic Serra highlighted the focus on flexibility for in-season development, noting, "Efficiency and the integration of features like active aerodynamics are crucial."
The car's livery revives a glossy Rosso Scuderia red with prominent white accents, echoing Ferrari's heritage while adapting to the new era. Race suits match this theme, with white on shoulders and collars. Coming off a disappointing 2025, where Ferrari scored 398 constructors' points for fourth place—Leclerc fifth with 242 points and Hamilton sixth with 156—the team seeks to end an 18-year title drought last broken in 2008.
Ferrari plans to join the Barcelona shakedown on January 27, skipping the first day to fine-tune based on weather. Vasseur stressed stability and open-mindedness: "We will have to be very open-minded at the beginning of the season to react to every single circumstance." Both drivers expressed enthusiasm for the challenges, with Hamilton calling it the "biggest regulation change" in his career, and Leclerc noting the need for quick adaptation to energy management. The season opener is March 8 in Australia.
