Gary Anderson raises concerns about Ferrari’s SF-26 after Barcelona shakedown
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton expressed a notably more positive outlook following the recent shakedown at the Circuit de Catalunya, a stark contrast to many of his press conference remarks during the 2025 season. After a challenging year in which Lewis Hamilton finished 86 points behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, the British seven-time world champion appeared cautiously optimistic about the 2026 campaign.
Last season, Ferrari quickly realised that the SF-25 could not realistically compete with McLaren without compromising the adaptations required by the new regulations. As a result, the Scuderia decided to abandon the SF-25 project as early as April, a move that placed considerable pressure on team boss Fred Vasseur, technical director Loic Serra, and the entire Ferrari engine department despite ongoing contract renewals and structural stability within the team.
Early indications from the Barcelona shakedown suggest that Ferrari may be on the right track. The SF-26 completed a high number of laps, with Mercedes being the only team to cover more distance. Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap over the five-day test period, though without detailed information on tyre compounds, track conditions, or fuel loads, the lap times alone cannot fully indicate performance potential.
Gary Anderson flags Ferrari’s SF-26 design as potentially too conservative
Despite the encouraging early results, former Jordan chief designer Gary Anderson has expressed concerns regarding Lewis Hamilton’s SF-26. Speaking on The Race F1 Podcast, Anderson explained that while some teams appear well-defined in their approach, Ferrari’s current design seems “in the middle” and may not deliver the necessary performance to challenge for victories in 2026.
Anderson commented that visionary designers like Adrian Newey typically refine their concepts quickly, ensuring that initial setbacks are resolved. However, he warned that Ferrari might face a risk if their approach remains too conservative. He also highlighted that Honda’s role in engine performance could be a variable, recalling that Fernando Alonso’s past experience with Honda was not without tension, which could impact the chassis development.
According to Anderson, Ferrari cannot afford to sit in the middle of the competitive pack this year. He suggested that while the SF-26 shows promise, the team must fully commit to performance upgrades and aerodynamic risk-taking to avoid underwhelming results, emphasizing that “time will tell” whether Ferrari can overcome this potential limitation.
Kimi Antonelli notes Ferrari’s measured approach in Barcelona
During the Barcelona shakedown, Ferrari reportedly ran a more basic aerodynamic setup, likely an A-spec version of the SF-26 intended to evolve before the first race in Melbourne. While competitors such as McLaren and Mercedes focused on testing fully developed car specifications, Ferrari’s conservative approach could be seen as cautious but strategic at this early stage of the season.
F1 analyst Kimi Antonelli noted that both Ferrari and Red Bull had surprises in store at the Barcelona tests, and that Ferrari’s performance improvements are beginning to attract attention from rival teams. However, he highlighted that Bahrain will provide a clearer picture, as further development packages are expected to be introduced to the SF-26.
With the 2026 regulations reshaping aerodynamics, chassis design, and power unit integration, every manufacturer is likely to reveal critical updates before the season opener in Melbourne. For Ferrari to return to race-winning form and seriously contend for both drivers’ and constructors’ championships, they will need to take calculated risks with the SF-26, pushing the limits of their new technical concepts.
Overall, while Lewis Hamilton’s early feedback is encouraging and the Barcelona shakedown was promising, Gary Anderson’s cautious observations underline the fine balance Ferrari must strike between reliability, aerodynamic innovation, and outright performance as they prepare for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
