Leo Turrini warns: “Ferrari’s 2026 season could leave many futures hanging in the balance”. Leo Turrini highlights the uncertainty surrounding Ferrari’s 2026 season.

The 2026 season is just around the corner, and teams across Formula 1 are working at full speed to prepare for the new year. The launches of the new cars, designed according to the sport’s updated technical regulations, are imminent, as are the closed-door Barcelona tests scheduled from January 26 to 30, with each team allowed to use the track for three out of five days. Ferrari is no exception, experiencing a feverish period as it prepares the 678, which will be unveiled at Fiorano on January 23, followed by a 15 km shakedown before heading to Spain. This intense schedule, as is well known, saw the Scuderia perform the fire-up of its power unit only last weekend.

Work on schedule and on time

Although the engine fire-up came at the last minute, it was completed within the timeframe set in Maranello, likely extended due to the decision to assemble two chassis in parallel. This followed the successful completion of the homologation crash tests and the early production of the second chassis and various aerodynamic components. The Scuderia had planned this work well in advance, which probably allowed them to conduct full-car tests on Maranello’s dyno bench, providing a first evaluation of the systems’ performance. Leo Turrini discussed this overall picture—both technical and regarding off-track scenarios—in his blog “Profondo Rosso,” emphasizing the significant impact this year could have on the Ferrari world.

Turrini’s perspective

“The week of the new Ferrari arrives. […] The car we will see will be only a hypothesis; the real car will be very different, and the same applies to the competition. […] I would like to reference Agatha Christie. Ten little Indians. And in the end, there were none. This is the worst-case scenario for the Red Lady, should the results be dismal. […] Does anyone imagine Vasseur could remain in his role in the event of failure? Does anyone forget that Hamilton is at the end of a legendary career and that, in case of a flop, retirement would be far more than an option? Does anyone believe Leclerc could remain in red after yet another disappointment? […] I do not recall a season start with so many futures simultaneously hanging in the balance. […] The first thing that comes to my mind is an old Celentano song. It was called: Dormi amore, la situazione non è buona.”