F1 | Ferrari takes a bold gamble to beat Mercedes’ engine in 2026
Ferrari is reportedly considering risky technical solutions to try to outperform the Mercedes engine, widely regarded as the best for 2026.
After confirming the end of development on the SF-25, Maranello’s focus is entirely on next year. Ferrari wants to arrive ready for 2026 with a car and power unit that Rossa fans hope will allow Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to fight for the championship once again.
Following a 2024 season that ended just short of the Constructors’ Championship, the Maranello team has faced a challenging 2025 full of disappointments. No race wins (except for Hamilton’s Sprint victory in Shanghai) and few podiums in the first sixteen rounds of the season have been results far below expectations, especially considering a lineup regarded by many as the best on the grid.
Ferrari ready to take risks
For this reason, Ferrari cannot afford to make mistakes with the 2026 project. Any failure of the Project 678 could put the entire technical department at risk, starting with Fred Vasseur, who recently signed a multi-year extension.
This explains Maranello’s choice to explore alternative and, in some respects, daring solutions. According to reports from Franco Nugnes, the Scuderia is confident it can compete with Mercedes in terms of power units.
The plan is to experiment extensively with the materials used, taking advantage of the fact that engines are now produced using Direct Metal Laser Sintering technology. This method allows the combination of different metals and non-organic materials, potentially enabling Ferrari’s engineers to build a power unit capable of withstanding greater stress while dissipating heat more efficiently.
Achieving this will likely require reducing the size of the sidepods and using much smaller radiators than currently fitted. It is certainly a difficult challenge, but one within the reach of a Ferrari team that can no longer afford errors.
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