Ferrari is gearing up for the 2026 pre-season tests, which will take place at the Barcelona circuit at the end of January. The Maranello team has a clear plan, and details are already emerging regarding when the very first updates for the 678 car will be introduced.
The 678 will feature push-rod suspension on both the front and rear, a notable change from the SF-25, which used a double pull-rod setup. Loic Serra has also utilized data from the updated rear mechanics, which debuted at Spa, to better understand what mistakes to avoid in 2026. Some insiders suggest this might have been the first misstep by the French technical director. Development efforts are heavily focused on the chassis, which has already passed the FIA homologation crash tests. After the Abu Dhabi tests, the technical team had the opportunity to gather additional data on the Pirelli 2026 tire compounds.
It is worth noting that Ferrari successfully ran a system with actuators to open the front wing and simulate active aerodynamics. The technical director is conducting significant work on the suspension and, being a vehicle dynamics specialist, prioritizes understanding the tires. With an eye on the future, Ferrari is aiming to prepare as thoroughly as possible for the first tests and beyond.
What Ferrari will do during the Barcelona tests and early updates
According to Rosario Giuliana from The Race, during the first 2026 tests in Barcelona (26–30 January), Ferrari will primarily focus on collecting initial data on the new power unit. The departures of Zimmermann and Schmidt are not expected to affect the PU work led by Enrico Gualtieri, but for now, it is impossible to speculate even a hypothetical ranking. Fred Vasseur, as reported multiple times, has sought to recruit outgoing Alpine staff, as Alpine will use Mercedes engines from next year. The 678 is expected to be presented around mid-January, with rumours pointing to the week of the 20th, followed by a first track run at Fiorano on the same day.
Regarding the car’s development, led by Frank Sanchez, Ferrari is expected to introduce technical updates almost every race. The first aerodynamic upgrades are set to arrive as early as the February Bahrain tests, gradually diverging from the original launch specification. According to the same source, the new F1 cars will follow a broader development curve but with earlier flattening compared to the ground-effect era. This may have prompted Maranello to move away from the SF-25 earlier than planned, focusing entirely on the 678 to gain a time advantage. Only time will tell how this strategy pays off.
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