Early warning for Ferrari? Sergio Perez discusses power unit teething troubles in Barcelona. Sergio Perez hints at minor issues with a Ferrari 2026 power unit.

Ferrari, first 2026 engine issues? A small warning appears, but stay alert

Could there be early warnings of potential problems with a Ferrari engine in 2026? Here’s what one driver had to say about the situation.

Before the start of the final day of testing in Barcelona, the new Ferrari power units—counting both the Scuderia and all Ferrari-powered teams—had completed a total of 600 laps, covering 2,794 kilometers. So far, no major reliability issues have emerged, although there may have been a small warning sign regarding the 2026 engine.

Focusing specifically on Ferrari, the SF-26 has completed 294 laps (1,369 kilometers) across the two days it has been on track. The Maranello team has faced no reliability setbacks, while a potential issue reportedly came from a team powered by the Ferrari engine. This involves Cadillac, so let’s break down the situation.

Perez raises a flag on the Ferrari 2026 power unit?

“We did many laps and collected a lot of information. There are still some issues to fix, but that’s normal. It’s part of the learning process for a new team. We’re exploring the car, the setup, and the directions we want to work on. Every lap helps us understand better how to proceed, and the overall feeling is positive. More than surprises, we encountered a few problems here and there. With the power unit, with the car, and with some minor electronics issues. But that’s fine: it means we’re working and learning. Being a new team, there’s still a lot to do, but these are exciting times.”

These were the words of Sergio Perez to F1 reporters at the end of his second day of testing on track with Cadillac.

So far, the American team has faced several issues and completed only 110 laps. This is fairly normal considering that for Cadillac, the Barcelona tests represent a complete Formula 1 debut. Sergio Perez’s comments about the engine are deliberately vague. It could simply be a problem independent of Ferrari, originating instead from Cadillac itself. Therefore, his words should be considered carefully, especially since the American car never stopped on track. Moreover, despite these statements, no issues have been reported with the new Ferrari power unit.

If you don’t want to miss the final day of testing with the Scuderia in action, click this link to stay updated.

The reported “hiccups” within the Cadillac garage highlight the immense challenge of integrating a sophisticated 2026 power unit into a brand-new chassis, a process where minor electronic and software conflicts are almost inevitable. While Sergio Perez’s comments provide a realistic look at the “teething pains” of a new project, the overall high mileage of the Ferrari-powered cars suggests that the core of the SF-26 engine remains a robust and reliable platform. As testing concludes, these early data points will be essential for the engineers in Maranello to fine-tune the power unit’s performance before the season begins in earnest.