Ferrari, there will be a “surprise” regarding the SF-26 livery: here is what it will involve
Ferrari is preparing every detail for the presentation of the SF-26, and there will be a “surprise” linked to the livery of the new car. Here is what it is expected to involve.
The Maranello-based team does not want to leave anything to chance with the SF-26, and preparations are already underway for the presentation scheduled for 23 January at Fiorano. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are currently involved in Sporting Management duties, but Ferrari is also set to bring a “surprise” related to the livery of the new car.
As already reported by AutoRacer.it, the fire-up of the single-seater has not yet taken place, but it is now imminent. The modifications that caused delays, due to additional tests required on the chassis, are understood to have been completed, and everything is reportedly ready. By tomorrow, the SF-26 engine should finally be started, mounted on a car that is still without bodywork.
The Production department has delivered the chassis to the mechanics, who are currently completing the rear section of the car. However, when focusing on the aesthetic aspects, further interesting details are now emerging.
Ferrari, an SF-26 that is redder, but not only
According to the same source mentioned earlier, Ferrari has decided to take a different approach when it comes to the SF-26 livery. The new single-seater is expected to be lighter in tone than the SF-25, but not as orange-red as the SF-90. One particular “surprise” should concern the paint finish itself.
It is worth remembering that the FIA has imposed a requirement that at least 55% of the car must be painted, covering the carbon fibre. Returning to the idea of the “surprise”, it is possible that Ferrari has decided to change direction and move away from a matte finish.
The matte paint has been used since 2019 because it offered a small weight advantage. With the SF-26, Ferrari in Maranello may instead return to the famous glossy paint that characterised the cars driven by Sebastian Vettel. Of course, everything still remains to be discovered.
There is also hope that the HP logo will be better integrated into the overall design, avoiding a repeat of the blue symbol seen previously. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are in Sporting Management to complete checks with their race suits and the FIA homologation process for the cockpit.
The anticipation for the SF-26 launch highlights a pivotal aesthetic and technical shift at Maranello, as Ferrari moves to reclaim its visual identity alongside its championship ambitions. By potentially returning to a glossy finish and a “purer” red, the team is signaling a move away from the compromises of the weight-saving matte era, embracing the new FIA 55% paint rule as an opportunity for brand renewal. As the engine fire-up nears and Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finalize their cockpit positions, the January 23 reveal at Fiorano promises to be more than just a car launch; it is the first visual step toward Ferrari’s high-stakes 2026 campaign.
Leave a Reply