No delays, no issues: Ferrari’s SF-26 is progressing according to schedule, with the fire-up planned for the end of the week.
Symbolic fire-up marks new power unit era
The fire-up is largely symbolic, as it officially marks Ferrari’s entry into the new era of power units, with power now almost equally divided between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Despite not yet being aerodynamically dressed, the car has already completed several cycles on the dynamometer, where the chassis (homologated with the planned crash test before Christmas), engine, and gearbox undergo endurance tests. These tests confirm that the SF-26 meets project targets and does not have any “teething” issues ahead of its official presentation on February 23.
Driver preparations
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already fitted their seats, and tomorrow they are expected to assist the communications staff with photo shoots that will be released online on the day of the SF-26 launch. Ferrari will use the Fiorano track to conduct the 15 km shake-down that the FIA allows for every homologated car before the Barcelona test sessions. This functional check will see the SF-26 running in its base configuration, which fans will then see during the five days of testing in Catalunya from January 26 to 30. The first aerodynamic evolutions will only be revealed during the two FIA-promoted sessions in Bahrain, from February 13–15 and then February 29–March 1.
Potential updates for Australia
It is also possible that the latest developments from wind tunnel testing could be shipped directly to Australia for the first race of the 2026 season, scheduled for the weekend of March 8 in Melbourne.
Quiet but intense preparations at Maranello
During this delicate phase, which introduces F1 to the new era of agile cars—shorter, narrower, and lighter than the previous ground-effect models—Scuderia Ferrari has chosen to operate quietly. Maria Conti, head of brand communications since the end of last year, has temporarily assumed a role in the Racing Department as well, following Silvia Hoffer’s move to the corporate area for a new position.
Under the snow of this exceptionally cold winter in Maranello, activity is intense but discreet. Ferrari’s goal is to draw a clear line under the disappointing 2025 season, which ended with fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, and to set the stage for a fresh start on February 23. The prevailing feeling? Less talk, more action.
As Maranello moves closer to that critical moment when the SF-26 first roars to life, the atmosphere at Ferrari feels distinctly different from years past. With Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc in a partnership that has the whole world watching, the pressure to deliver a “rocket” from day one is immense. By choosing a path of quiet diligence over preseason hype, the Scuderia is signaling that they are fully aware of the stakes. The 2026 regulations offer a rare chance to reset the hierarchy, and Ferrari seems determined to ensure that when the lights go out in Melbourne, their new era is defined by trophies rather than potential.
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