Ferrari Unveils 2026 Formula 1 Car with Hamilton and Leclerc at the Wheel
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have taken the first laps in Ferrari’s new 2026 Formula 1 car, the SF-26, at the team’s private test track, Fiorano. The car was launched on Friday morning, and the shakedown at the circuit, located within the confines of Ferrari’s sprawling Maranello factory, was a significant milestone for the team.
The SF-26 completed a handful of laps without issue, and the team is now looking forward to the opening preseason test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week. According to team principal Fred Vasseur, the launch is always an emotional moment, as it represents the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort from the entire team, including those who work behind the scenes.
“The launch is always emotional because you know that the team is putting a lot of effort and when I say the team, it’s not only the visible part of the iceberg that you have on track, it’s the people at home, the people working on the chassis, on the engine, on the production,” Vasseur said. “It’s always something very emotional. I think it’s even more true this season because we know the amount of work that we had to put into this project.”
Due to the proximity of a public road next to the Fiorano circuit, videos from fans and broadcasters quickly appeared online, showing Hamilton’s distinctive yellow helmet behind the wheel on the opening lap. One video showed the car stopping on the main straight next to the pits, leading to speculation that it may have broken down. However, a Ferrari spokesperson confirmed that the stop was “part of the plan” to optimize the mileage available for a demonstration event under F1’s regulations.
New Regulations and Car Developments
Outside of official preseason testing, teams are allowed to complete two 200km promotional events (often referred to as filming days) per season and two demonstration events capped at 15km. To make sure no mileage was wasted at Fiorano, Hamilton was instructed to stop on track, perform what appeared to be a practice start, and was then wheeled back to the garage by mechanics. Leclerc then got his first taste of the SF-26 within the same allocation of mileage.
New regulations this season have resulted in an overhaul of the power unit to produce more electric power, as well as new chassis regulations to make the cars smaller and lighter. Active aerodynamics on the front and rear wing have also been introduced to increase efficiency, and Hamilton was seen activating the wings as he drove towards the first corner.
Technical director Loic Serra confirmed that more developments are scheduled during the second and third tests in Bahrain. “There will be evolutions of the car for sure, I mean the development doesn’t just start with the beginning of the season, it will be there as well in winter testing,” Serra said.
Upcoming Preseason Tests
Next week’s test provides teams with the opportunity to hit the track on three days within a five-day window from Jan. 26-30. Vasseur confirmed Ferrari would not run on the first day of the test but did plan to run on the second day. The team will then decide how to use the remainder of its allocation over the final three days.
According to Vasseur, the target for the upcoming tests is to get the maximum amount of information on the car and to start the development process from Bahrain onwards. “We know the challenge that we had to face on this project, and it was a good day today when the car left the garage, but on the other hand, it’s not the target,” Vasseur said. “The target for sure is the season [to come] — it means that it’s the start of a new journey, starting today with the test in Barcelona, in Bahrain, and the races.”
