Ferrari has now completed the final remaining process on the SF-26, namely the stickering phase, before the car was shipped to Bahrain, as already communicated earlier today. The SF-26 will be sent to the Middle East ahead of the two official FIA-organised pre-season test sessions.
The first test will take place from February 11 to 13, followed by a second session scheduled from February 18 to 20. These sessions will mark the first official opportunity for the teams to run their new 2026 cars on track under competitive testing conditions.
Completing the stickering phase represents an important step in the overall operations involved in building a Formula 1 car. While it has little relevance in terms of on-track performance, it plays a crucial role from a commercial perspective, particularly in relation to sponsorship agreements. Each sticker must be placed on the car in the correct size and in the most appropriate position, in line with the contractual commitments agreed with each partner.
Stickering photos (part one)
Once all the work has been completed, the car is photographed and the images are sent to all commercial partners for final approval. Ferrari confirmed last night that this process had been concluded and marked the moment by releasing four close-up images as a symbolic preview.
As explained in the post published by Scuderia Ferrari, this represents only the first part of the work carried out. In the coming days, additional images are likely to be released, offering a clearer view of the SF-26 dressed in its new livery and fully decorated with all the partners who have chosen to support the Maranello team during this highly anticipated season.
To see the car on track, however, fans will have to wait until the first official test session in Bahrain at the Sakhir circuit, scheduled for February 11. During the Barcelona outing, which took place as a private shakedown without cameras, there appeared to be some areas of the SF-26 that were still free of branding.
Whether that impression was accurate or not remains to be seen. It is possible that additional sponsors could still appear on the car that will compete throughout the season, even if this would be a somewhat unusual procedure at such a late stage of preparation.
The completion of the SF-26 stickering therefore marks the final logistical hurdle before Ferrari takes to the track in Bahrain for the 2026 pre-season tests. This meticulous branding process ensures that the Maranello team honors its commercial commitments while preparing the car for its global debut. The unveiling of these first details signals that the countdown to the new season has officially begun, with all eyes now turning to Sakhir for the first true performance indicators of the SF-26.
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