“The most important thing is not to have a good car right now, but to be able to improve it throughout the entire season.” With these words, Ferrari technical director Loic Serra highlighted how continuous development will be the real key factor in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After all, as Loic Serra explained, “we started from a blank sheet of paper, and that gives you many opportunities. The disadvantage is that when there are so many possibilities… you can quickly lose your way.”
A clear identity for the Ferrari SF-26
Despite the challenges of starting from scratch under the new regulations, the SF-26 appears to have been born with a strong and defined identity. It is described as a solid and “healthy” project, with particular strengths at the rear of the car and in the floor area — two crucial zones in modern Formula 1 aerodynamics.
Among the most talked-about elements is the controversial aerodynamic profile positioned immediately behind the exhaust. This component was carefully designed to manage the hot airflow coming from the exhaust system and was introduced only after a long approval process with the FIA.
“My exhaust? It’s not like that, rather it’s the team’s exhaust,” Serra explained in an interview with L’Equipe when referring to the innovation. “I consider myself only the last link in the chain.”
Ferrari’s 270-degree rear wing rotation
The French engineer’s approach reflects humility, but he did not hide a certain pride when discussing the reaction from rival teams. “I admit it’s nice to see the effect our creations have, but these regulations gave us a blank sheet of paper and many opportunities.”
Ferrari also surprised the paddock with its innovative movable rear wing, capable of rotating up to 270 degrees — a solution made possible by the 2026 technical regulations. “The previous rules did not give us this degree of freedom. We saw the opportunity to maximize straight-line speed and better exploit airflow, and we took it.”
Performance comes from what you cannot see
However, according to Loic Serra, the true performance secrets of the SF-26 are hidden beneath the surface. “What truly gives performance to a car is rarely visible. It is the sum of many small things,” he clarified.
With the end of the ground-effect era, the focus for every team is clear: “The objective for everyone is to maximize downforce and achieve strong interaction between chassis and power unit.”
Within this framework, the SF-26 impressed positively during early-season testing, proving to be reliable and packed with clever technical solutions capable of making a difference. Yet the development race is far from over.
“Now we must improve it, and we must do so throughout the entire season. With the people we have in Maranello… I don’t see why we shouldn’t succeed.”
This long-term development strategy will be the deciding factor in a year where the learning curve is steeper than ever. With the technical leadership clearly focused on continuous refinement, the SF-26 is expected to change significantly between the season opener in Melbourne and the final race of the year, as the team works to stay ahead of the development race in this new era of Formula 1.
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