It’s been just over a month since a dramatic F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, but the next season is already starting to gain momentum with the reveal of 2026 contenders, already underway.
Just days after we saw teasers of Ferrari’s next F1 challenger and its engine firing up, the SF-26 was revealed at Fiorano earlier today. This is the Italian marque’s 72nd Formula 1 grand prix car and the first conceived entirely around the new 2026 regulations, which will reset Formula 1 as you know it. These rules mandate lighter cars, a rethink of the aerodynamics, and a new hybrid balance, all in a bid to deliver closer racing.
The SF-26 does away with ground-effect aerodynamics entirely, a decisive break driven by the 2026 regulations. Ferrari has reworked the chassis to cut mass and reduce drag, then wrapped it in simpler bodywork. Power comes from Ferrari’s new 067/6 turbocharged 1.6-liter V6, a 90-degree unit with a single turbocharger that puts out 400 kW or ~536 horsepower.
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But the most consequential change sits in the power unit. Ferrari’s new hybrid system swaps the MGU-H and raises MGU-K output to 350 kW, which is roughly about 469 horsepower, bringing combined output to roughly 1,000 horsepower. Electrical energy now plays a much larger role in overall performance, demanding closer integration between the engine and chassis, influencing everything from cooling layouts and packaging to energy deployment strategies.
The SF-26 marks the beginning of a new era for both Formula 1 and Ferrari, with new regulations introduced in the same year for the chassis and the power unit, as well as new fuels and new tyre sizes. This car is the result of a tremendous team effort and represents the start of a completely new journey, built around a different set of rules that inevitably brings a number of unknowns. The team is aligned and more united than ever as we look ahead to the season. -
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari.
Ferrari has also reinforced this reset with its latest livery, which sees the return of gloss paint for the first time, after seven years of matte finishes. The 2026 Rosso Scuderia is brighter and more intense, drawing from the red Ferrari used around the turn of the millennium. White now plays a structural role around the cockpit and engine cover.
The Tifosi will be watching closely, as testing begins next week in Barcelona, followed by two sessions in Bahrain, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton going into the 2026 season, which expands to 11 teams and 24 races, before it's lights out at Albert Park on March 8 in Australia.
