Ferrari has decided to revive several concepts on the SF-26 that were first introduced with the SF-90, and not only those. Special attention will also need to be paid to the front end of the new Ferrari, and there is a very specific reason why.
The Maranello team completed the first fire up the SF-26 engine yesterday, allowing both its fans and its rivals to hear the new power unit’s sound. Ferrari has clearly pushed to the limit with its latest single-seater, revisiting technical concepts seen on the SF-90 and beyond, with particular focus on the design of the front wing.
According to various reports from AutoRacer.it, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are currently in Maranello to assess whether the new racing suits for the 2026 championship meet the required standards and to obtain FIA homologation for cockpit exit procedures.
The Production department reportedly delivered the chassis a few days ago, which has already been assembled, while the mechanics have also completed the installation of the rear section. The power unit will be started with the car still largely stripped and in a ‘bare’ configuration. Several new elements are expected to emerge, particularly in terms of the car’s overall design.
Ferrari and a front wing that sparks curiosity
According to the Italian website AutoRacer.it, the SF-26 chassis will retain the triangular airbox first introduced with the SF-90. On either side of the roll hoop, two aerodynamic ‘horns’ are expected to return, designed to manage and separate airflow directed toward the rear wing.
As already known, Ferrari will adopt push-rod suspension at both the front and rear, a technical solution not seen in Maranello since the F10. The work carried out by Loïc Serra in his role as technical director will need to deliver tangible results, but the innovations do not stop there.
According to the same reports, the French engineer has tested as many as 50 different front wing concepts on the SF-26. This crucial component, which will also feature an opening flap due to the introduction of active aerodynamics, is expected to feature a particularly interesting design.
Frédéric Vasseur has already hinted that the SF-26 will debut in two specifications, referred to as spec A and spec B. The first version will be unveiled during the Fiorano presentation on January 23 and will be used in the private Barcelona tests.
Further updates are expected to follow in Bahrain and then in Australia, for the opening race of the season. Ferrari is expected to run a slightly bulkier bodywork configuration initially, designed to conceal some of the car’s true aerodynamic shapes as development continues.
Ferrari’s decision to blend the aerodynamic heritage of the SF-90 with the radical suspension layout of the F10 demonstrates a “best of both worlds” approach to the 2026 regulations. By testing 50 different front wing iterations, Loic Serra is clearly prioritizing front-end authority—a trait both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton rely on for their driving styles. As the engine fires up in Maranello, the Spec-A/Spec-B strategy confirms that Ferrari is playing a long game, using a “bulky” initial design to mask their true aerodynamic innovations until the very last moment before the Australian Grand Prix.
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