The weeks spanning late summer and early autumn have been particularly turbulent for Ferrari, marked by a revolving-door atmosphere in key personnel. Much attention has been drawn by the departures of Wolf Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt to Audi. These exits came at a critical moment for the development of Ferrari’s 2026 power units, creating a temporary “gap” in the Scuderia’s Engine Department. From the outside, the situation appeared calm ahead of the new regulations’ debut—which will introduce significant changes both aerodynamically and in engine design. However, Maranello quickly reassured that the department, led by Enrico Gualtieri, who now has full authority following the departure of these key collaborators, is working at full speed and with maximum focus on the new power unit.
Experimenting with materials
The 2026 power unit was reportedly set up to test innovative solutions in materials, including a steel cylinder head. This idea was eventually abandoned in favor of more traditional solutions using additively manufactured aluminum. The change aimed to achieve the reliability and power levels required, given the high temperatures and pressures involved, which the steel head could not guarantee. Endurance tests on the bench are currently ongoing to ensure the unit meets FIA lifespan requirements, enabling the Scuderia to complete the season with the allowed number of power units. Despite reports from other media outlets, it is still unclear whether Ferrari has met its performance and reliability targets and if these results are reassuring. Additionally, beyond reliability, Enrico Gualtieri’s engineers must also extract enough power to keep the engine competitive. According to our sources, the outlook in this area is not particularly promising: Ferrari may likely start the season behind Mercedes, whose power unit is widely regarded as the benchmark.
Former rivals gaining an edge
Some external voices have reportedly raised concerns with Ferrari regarding the development of the new engine. Recently, engineers from other teams, most notably Alpine, have joined Maranello after completing the Alpine 2026 power unit program. According to reports, these engineers, formerly based in Viry-Châtillon, were not impressed by Ferrari’s current engine development. They claimed that Alpine’s engine—whose design and development were halted prematurely due to company decisions, leaving it in an early phase without the chance to fully extract power—performed better on the test bench than Ferrari’s emerging 2026 unit.
Such feedback could deliver a blow to the morale and confidence of Ferrari’s engine team, especially as they begin producing components for the first tests of the 678 power unit. On the other hand, these insights could also prove beneficial for Enrico Gualtieri’s team, helping to identify and correct potential weaknesses in a project that started from scratch. Even minor adjustments could have major consequences, potentially delivering significant gains for Ferrari as the 2026 season approaches.
