Ferrari is reportedly running behind schedule with the development of the SF-26, following a sudden change of programme that could have significant consequences ahead of the Barcelona tests.
The Maranello team is said to be experiencing a rather chaotic situation within its Racing Division. According to the latest reports, Ferrari is behind with the SF-26, and it cannot be ruled out that the team may arrive at the first Barcelona tests without a fully prepared car.
As previously reported by the Italian website AutoRacer.it, the atmosphere inside the walls of Maranello is far from ideal. Ferrari is currently engaged in a race against time, with delays in the original timetable becoming increasingly evident. One clear sign of this is the fact that the first fire-up of the 2026 power unit has not yet taken place, although it is expected to happen shortly.
The factory of the Prancing Horse is currently concentrating months of work that will be officially unveiled on 23 January at Fiorano. However, attention is now turning to the reasons behind the team’s sudden change of programme and the potential consequences for the Barcelona tests, scheduled to take place from 26 to 30 January.
Sudden changes to the SF-26 and additional tests requested
According to AutoRacer.it, Ferrari has decided to alter its development schedule, causing delays compared to the initial plan for reasons that have not been fully specified. These delays are believed to be partly linked to sudden changes made to the car itself.
As a result, additional tests were required before the assembly of the launch specification could be completed. Team principal Fred Vasseur had already stated that Ferrari intended to use all the available time, assembling the car in its entirety only the day before the official presentation. The SF-26 is expected to introduce several technical innovations, and while curiosity around the project is high, the internal “chaos” does not suggest a particularly calm working environment.
It is worth noting that the first chassis has only very recently been signed off, further underlining how tight the schedule has become.
For the Barcelona tests, Ferrari is expected to arrive with an initial “A” version of the car, before introducing several updates during the Bahrain tests and at the opening race of the season in Australia, where a “B” version of the SF-26 is anticipated.
The first test session will take place in Catalonia, with teams allowed to choose three days of running between 26 and 30 January. Referring to a recent article by Motorsport.com Italia, it was reported that “there are also teams that are dramatically behind their planned schedules. They will not be present on the first day because their car is not able to run due to some parts not being completed in time. There could even be a top team.”
By linking these reports, it is possible to speculate that Ferrari could be among those teams, although nothing has been confirmed and this remains only a hypothesis. Ultimately, the only real answers will come from the track, when it will be time to push to the limit and reveal the true competitive picture.
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