Ferrari unveil aggressive anti-dive setup on Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 SF-26 after positive Fiorano shakedown
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc successfully completed the first shakedown of Ferrari’s new SF-26 at the Fiorano test circuit on Friday, marking the Scuderia’s first car built to the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. The launch of the car was met with enthusiasm, as fans and media got their first glimpse of Ferrari’s 2026 challenger designed to end the team’s long wait for a drivers’ championship.
The new SF-26 was revealed by Ferrari in the morning before Hamilton took to the track for the initial laps. The seven-time world champion completed three laps of the Fiorano circuit under a carefully managed program before handing over to Charles Leclerc, who completed the final two laps allowed within the 15-kilometre shakedown limit set by F1. Hamilton briefly stopped before completing his first full lap, sparking initial concern, but it was later clarified that this was part of Ferrari’s pre-planned procedure. He had been sent out on Pirelli’s wet-weather demonstration tyres for a controlled installation lap, as part of the team’s cautious and data-focused approach to the car’s first run.
Ferrari have gone all-in on the 2026 regulations, aiming to secure a drivers’ championship for the first time since Kimi Raikkonen’s triumph in 2007. Team principal Fred Vasseur had already halted development of the 2025 car in April of last year to dedicate all resources to the 2026 program, signaling Ferrari’s intention to fully exploit the new rules.
Ferrari adopt ‘extremely aggressive’ anti-dive geometry on SF-26
The Fiorano shakedown also confirmed a major change in Ferrari’s suspension philosophy. The team has shifted from the pull-rod setup used in 2025 to a push-rod configuration for 2026, a decision led by technical director Loic Serra in response to the team’s winless campaign last year. Alongside this, Ferrari have implemented what Italian media Corriere della Sera describe as a ‘technical revolution’, aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag and optimising fuel efficiency.
One of the standout changes is Ferrari’s use of a markedly aggressive anti-dive angle on the SF-26’s upper suspension wishbone. This angle is far more pronounced than the initial 2026 designs from Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi, and Mercedes. Technical analysts, including Gary Anderson, have noted that Racing Bulls appear to have reduced anti-dive on their 2026 car compared to their 2025 configuration. Ferrari, in contrast, have doubled down, using an extreme anti-dive geometry as part of their quest for maximum aerodynamic performance.
Anderson suggests that Racing Bulls likely reduced their anti-dive to complement the higher ride height needed for increased rake angles, a critical factor under the 2026 rules. Ferrari have deliberately chosen the opposite approach, pushing the anti-dive angle aggressively in combination with a higher rake philosophy to maximise underfloor downforce. Under the new regulations, cars will run even more extreme rake angles than during the ground-effect era of 2022–2025, enhancing the efficiency of the floor’s venturi channels.
New 2026 regulations bring engine, aero, and tyre challenges
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations bring sweeping changes beyond aerodynamics, with smaller, lighter cars, redefined tyres, and a reworked power unit. Engines now deliver nearly equal power from combustion and electrical sources, run on sustainable fuels, and no longer include the costly MGU-H component. These changes have also led to the introduction of active aero, with moveable front and rear wings that drivers can activate in designated zones to optimise energy usage and maintain pace across energy-demanding circuits.
Hamilton wasted no time testing Ferrari’s active aero system during his initial laps of the SF-26, demonstrating the team’s focus on integrating the new regulations’ technical innovations. Despite the positive shakedown, the version of the SF-26 driven by Hamilton and Leclerc is unlikely to be the race-ready model for the 2026 season. Ferrari plan to use pre-season testing primarily for data collection to guide further development, rather than running a fully optimised competition car.
The Fiorano shakedown underlined Ferrari’s commitment to an aggressive, high-risk development strategy. From the extreme anti-dive suspension geometry to the active aero testing and push-rod architecture, the Scuderia are betting that their bold design choices will help Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc challenge for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2026.
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