Anticipation continues to rise for a 2026 season which promises to be transformative for Formula 1. From traditional front-runners to plucky underdogs, the new regulations present risk and opportunity.
With that said, Ferrari are no doubt in a unique position – even among the other big teams. For one, the Maranello team have gone almost two decades without title success – substantially longer than McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes.
More pressingly, their driver pairing of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (despite being at different stages of their career) are equally impatient for a title-contending car. Should Ferrari want to keep their all-star duo, they must deliver.
Conscious of this background, team principal Fred Vasseur has a clear plan – both for on and off-track.
Ferrari prepare two different cars for Barcelona testing
Perhaps for the first time in recent seasons, Ferrari have not generated the most attention during the winter break. On this occasion, it is Mercedes who have been under the microscope as the 2026 regulations come closer.
In the immediate aftermath of last season, there was already a narrative about the 2026 Mercedes engines being the safest choice. This belief has only been strengthened and cemented in the weeks leading up to pre-season testing.
Still, this does not mean others have failed to attract attention. Red Bull’s engine, for example, is one of the big question marks as the new season approaches.
The Austrian team’s work on the compression ratio trick being used at Mercedes, among other things, has sparked optimism that Red Bull’s first campaign as a manufacturer could be better than first imagined.
Of course, team principal Laurent Mekies still emphasises the need for caution and realistic expectations. Red Bull still anticipate an uphill battle, particularly against Mercedes, in the coming months.
At Ferrari, there have been a few whispers and murmurs over the winter. There have been a combination of positive and negative reports about the Scuderia, creating an unclear picture about their progress.
However, there are some relatively well-established facts. The first is that Ferrari are going bold for 2026, and this applies for both their aerodynamic package and engine design.
Focusing on aerodynamics and concept design, the Scuderia are scheduled to bring two vastly different specifications to testing. One of their cars will run a basic version of the SF-26, serving as a baseline to confirm certain parameters and assumptions.
Simultaneously, Ferrari are also working on a more sophisticated and advanced SF-26 spec. This version will feature some of the braver ideas Maranello have developed for these new regulations, and therefore brings many unknowns.
Still, the aim for the Italian outfit is to hit two birds with one stone in pre-season. With more teams than ever capable of delivering a top package, playing it safe is the biggest risk heading into 2026.
