F1 | Ferrari returns to push-rod suspension on the SF-26, Loic Serra explains why. Ferrari explains why the SF-26 returns to push-rod front suspension for 2026.

The SF-26 suspension has been revolutionised compared to the previous car: Ferrari explains the choice made with the 2026 regulations firmly in mind.

Among the elements that have attracted the most attention on the new Ferrari SF-26, the suspension undoubtedly stands out. Ferrari has returned to a push-rod layout at the front after using a pull-rod configuration last season. A decision that has sparked debate about how far the Maranello team has decided to go, also in terms of potential design risk.

When asked directly whether this choice represented an increase in the level of risk in the car’s design, the answer was clear-cut. Ferrari rejected the idea of a “risky” decision and preferred to speak about conceptual consistency. “I don’t think it’s about risk. It’s about what we believe is the right direction for the concept.” These were the words of Loic Serra during the SF-26 launch press conference for a group of selected media outlets.

Ferrari returns to push-rod suspension on the SF-26: the reason

A statement that makes it clear how the SF-26 suspension is not the result of a gamble for its own sake, but rather the outcome of an in-depth technical evaluation, embedded within a broader vision for the car.

Ferrari explained how the most important decisions are taken very early on, during the conceptual phase, when all options are analysed without preconceptions. “When you are in the conceptual phase, you have to evaluate all, or as many options as possible,” it was underlined. “The one we chose was the one that, at that moment, we believed to be the most correct for the concept.”

The choice therefore stems from the interpretation of the new regulations and from the desire to build a solid technical foundation, rather than from any wish to surprise or to take unnecessary risks. “I’m not sure that risk is the right word,” was reiterated, confirming a design philosophy driven by technical conviction rather than by bold gambles.

The radically revised suspension of the SF-26 thus becomes one of the symbols of Ferrari’s new direction, not as an act of courage for its own sake, but as the natural consequence of a concept developed to face the new era of Formula 1 in the most effective way possible.

The focus will be on Maranello to see if this refined technical direction translates into a competitive edge on the track. By prioritizing a cohesive design concept over individual mechanical gambles, Ferrari is signaling a confident and methodical approach to the sport’s next great era, setting the stage for a fascinating technical battle at the front of the grid.