Ferrari is the latest manufacturer to unveil its 2026 F1 challenger. Rather than a show car, Ferrari has unveiled early renders of the SF-26, described by the Italian team as a “complete rethink of the car’s architecture” for the new rules overhaul. This was followed by a private shakedown at the Fiorano circuit.
- Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton driving for Ferrari this year
- 2026 F1 season starts with the Australian GP on March 6-8
Ferrari 2026 F1 car design details
SF-26 a “complete rethink”
The most visible change on the SF-26 is the new livery that Ferrari says is inspired by the special edition car it raced at the 2025 Monza GP. That special edition itself was a tribute to the Ferrari 312T with which Niki Lauda won the first of his three titles in 1975. Just like Red Bull, Ferrari also returns to using gloss paint after seven seasons of using a matte finish livery.
The 2026 rules overhaul will see the introduction of marginally smaller cars, with new power units featuring a near 50-50 split between combustion and electric power. These cars will also feature active aerodynamics and run on sustainable fuel blends.
While fans can expect plenty of changes to the SF-26 once testing officially starts, the images released so far do reveal some early design details. The top of the engine cover has a serrated edge. The images also show that Ferrari will use pushrod suspension at both ends.
“Developing the SF-26 required us to adapt to a completely new regulatory framework. We dedicated significant time to the concept phase to capture as much as possible of the new regulatory and technical context. We also had to ensure that the car’s architecture would allow us enough flexibility for in-season development,” said Loic Serra, technical director chassis at Scuderia Ferrari.
“In this environment, efficiency and the integration of features like active aerodynamics are crucial. The SF-26 represents a major collaborative effort from the entire team at the factory, and we are looking forward to starting the season.”
Teams will now head to Barcelona for a private test from January 26-30. This will be followed by two more test sessions in Bahrain before the season kicks off with the Australian GP on March 6-8.
