Possible launch date of the Ferrari 2026 emerges: here’s when it could happen
The presentation of the Ferrari 2026 Formula 1 car might already have a tentative date: could everything be moved forward due to early FIA testing?
The Prancing Horse could reveal its new creation, which will compete in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship, ahead of schedule because of FIA-anticipated tests. A possible approximate launch date for the next Ferrari has surfaced, and here are the details.
In recent years, the Scuderia from Maranello has consistently unveiled its new car in February at its home circuit of Fiorano. This occasion also allows for the first kilometres to be covered in a filming day of 200 km, which permits running a few but crucial kilometres. The track’s configuration does not provide exact performance data but serves as a valuable first test for the car.
In 2023, Ferrari organized an event where Tifosi could watch the unveiling from a specially constructed grandstand. In the last two launches, however, the team opted for a more ‘reserved’ approach. Nevertheless, Ferrari supporters made their presence felt from the famous ‘Ponte dei Sospiri,’ which offers a view of much of the track. In 2025, the first official renders were released immediately after the F1-75 event held in London. Only the following day, on February 19, the SF-25 completed its first laps. Now, everything could be moved forward by several weeks, and here’s why.
FIA testing and the week of Ferrari’s 2026 launch
The highly complex 2026 regulations bring a technical revolution never seen before in Formula 1. The power unit will be heavily modified, with power split roughly equally between the electric and internal combustion sections. There is still much mystery surrounding the new power units, though rumors have been circulating for months that Mercedes may have the edge, with Ferrari just behind. Additionally, the DRS will be eliminated, and active aerodynamics will be introduced on both the front and rear wings. The sport will return to flat floors after four years of ground-effect cars, where Venturi tunnels have given engineers plenty of headaches. Maranello continues to develop the Project 678, with significant changes planned for the suspension and more.
The new Ferrari is expected to take to the track during the FIA’s ‘secret’ tests in Barcelona in January, from the 26th to the 30th. The FIA has decided to conduct these closed-door tests to protect the teams from both potential technical failures and the prying eyes of outsiders. According to reports from the Italian media, the 2026 Ferrari will almost certainly be unveiled in the week preceding the tests. The exact date has not yet been confirmed, but it is likely that around January 20, Maranello’s latest creation will finally be revealed to the world.
Leave a Reply