The Ferrari 2026 car will undergo a major transformation under Technical Director Loic Serra: everything starts from a concept that Maranello has not used since 2010. Here are the details on the new Ferrari 678 project.
Scuderia Ferrari is working tirelessly on the 678 project that will compete in the upcoming Formula 1 season. The 2026 Ferrari, to be driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, will see a technical revolution led by Loic Serra, the Technical Director, based on a concept not used at Maranello since the 2010 car.
A few days ago, discussions focused on how the SF-25’s progress has influenced Ferrari engineers’ decisions regarding the suspension revolution of the new car. The current mechanical setup is likely to be approved for the 678 project with only refinement modifications. This insight was reported by Gazzetta dello Sport.
Contrary to that, AutoRacer.it revealed that the 2026 car was already well advanced a couple of months ago. The base chassis and suspension systems have been defined, guided for the first time by directives from Technical Director Loic Serra. Aerodynamic work, led by Diego Tondi, will include modifications to the front axle design. Loic Serra is implementing a kind of suspension revolution, which is crucial for the car’s performance. Significant changes are expected at the rear as well.
The Ferrari 2026 will feature push-rod suspension at the rear, like the F10
By the end of September, the chassis for the car was approved. According to AutoRacer.it, the component is now finalized and will soon receive FIA homologation. The chassis is fundamental to the car’s development as it connects all major components, including the engine, suspension, mechanical and electronic parts, and aerodynamics. By November, all teams must submit their projects to the Federation, with crash tests scheduled 4-5 weeks early to be ready for the secret January tests in Barcelona. Serra is pushing for an aggressive development approach in terms of design.
The French engineer has decided that both the front and rear suspensions will adopt a push-rod layout. This return to a push-rod system at the front is expected for many 2026 cars, but for Ferrari it will also apply to the rear. This solution has not been seen since the F10, the car with which Fernando Alonso nearly won the championship in 2010. The dual pull-rod setup did not yield the expected results on the SF-25. The mechanical element will now be pushed to the limit to also influence aerodynamics, similar to what McLaren did with the MCL39. The rear suspension design will be completely new, and the launch specification is ready.
Before his contract renewal was confirmed, Frédéric Vasseur had asked the technical department to be bold with certain development directions. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already tested the changes in Ferrari’s simulator. The team aims to reclaim greatness, and it seems there has been a shift in Maranello, embracing a more daring vision. The results of this bold approach will be revealed next year.
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