Jerome D’Ambrosio, Ferrari deputy TP, reveals the behind the scenes of the 2026 project
Jerome d’Ambrosio, deputy team principal of Ferrari, has spoken about the work carried out so far in Maranello on the 2026 Formula 1 car. Are there concerns surrounding the new red car? One of Ferrari’s key signings from Mercedes was Jerome d’Ambrosio, who now holds the dual role of deputy team principal and head of the Ferrari Driver Academy. The former Belgian driver shared details about the progress of the 2026 project and whether there are doubts about its effectiveness. Here is what he revealed.
The 678 project (the chassis number) has so far advanced without major obstacles. Development of the SF-25 was already concluded in mid-June, one month ahead of the original schedule. The Ferrari 2026 machine is currently the only car in the wind tunnel and is already estimated to be 70% complete. In Maranello, aerodynamic development of the key components will continue until November. A base chassis and suspension concept have already been defined, following the directions of technical director Loic Serra. The French engineer is implementing a real revolution in the suspension design. Known as a specialist in tyres and vehicle dynamics, Serra is bringing expertise to an area where Ferrari has often struggled in recent seasons. But there are also new details revealed by deputy team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio in an exclusive interview with the Italian website AutoRacer.it.
D’Ambrosio: “One of the key aspects of next year…”
“There is good harmony now and we are working very hard. One of the fundamental aspects of next year will be putting the whole package together, and it will really come down to compromises. There will be elements that Formula 1 has never seen before, and we will have to consider how the combination of these factors will impact lap performance. Grey areas have always existed in F1, and I don’t think it will be much different from the past. We are working together with the other teams and the FIA to make sure that when we arrive in Melbourne [the first Grand Prix of 2025], we will have a proper Formula 1 product and a race-ready package.”
Many fear that Mercedes could recreate the same level of dominance that was seen in 2014 with the debut of the V6 hybrid engines. Rumours in the paddock suggest their power unit may be the strongest, but Ferrari is not intimidated. Instead, it is said that Maranello’s PU will include a bold solution focusing on innovative materials, though reliability could be a key issue. Ferrari is not only chasing outright performance but also aiming for higher thermal efficiency, which would allow the bodywork openings to be closed more aggressively. The Italian team’s goal is to design very slim sidepods thanks to more compact radiators. The recent Pirelli tests, where Ferrari gathered valuable data on simulating the opening of the front wing, were useful, but the definitive 2026 car will be a completely different project.
“We must keep in mind that the race cars will be different from the mule cars used in testing, but we did not notice any major issues with the compounds. They are different tyres. Our task now is to understand how the tyres behave, essentially defining where to place the car in terms of balance and what to expect, while the project continues to move forward,” concluded d’Ambrosio.
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