Ferrari has officially launched their 2026 Formula 1 challenger, the SF-26, the Scuderia’s first step into the sport’s new regulatory era — with Lewis Hamilton entrusted with the car’s maiden run in Italy.
The Italian team are aiming to reset after a bruising 2025 campaign, which saw Hamilton’s highly anticipated first season in red unravel into what he described as a “nightmare”. Ferrari slipped to fourth in the constructors’ championship despite beginning the year with ambitions of fighting for titles.
Lewis Hamilton was given the honour of taking the SF-26 onto the track for the first time, completing the car’s initial shakedown at Ferrari’s Fiorano test circuit on Friday morning in damp conditions. Charles Leclerc is scheduled to run the car later in the day.
With all teams working under sweeping new chassis and power unit regulations for 2026, Ferrari’s technical group — like their rivals — have been forced into what they describe as a “complete rethink of the car’s architecture”.
Alongside the mechanical overhaul, Ferrari has also introduced a striking visual change for the new season.
The SF-26 signals Ferrari’s return to glossy paintwork, moving away from the matte finishes that have dominated recent years. The Scuderia last ran a fully glossy livery seven seasons ago, with Red Bull also opting for a similar switch on their latest challenger.
Ferrari says the iconic red has been made “brighter and more intense”, while additional white around the cockpit and engine cover is intended to “create a strong, balanced visual contrast, making the car instantly recognisable”.
Although the scale of F1’s 2026 regulation overhaul theoretically opens the door for teams to leap forward, expectations around Ferrari appear more cautious following last year’s struggles.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur stressed the scale of the task ahead while highlighting the unity within the organisation.
“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,” said Vasseur.
“The team is aligned and more united than ever as we look ahead to the season.”
Hamilton, Leclerc ready for ‘extremely important year’ after major rules reset
As Hamilton prepares to begin his 20th Formula 1 season — with his contract status beyond 2026 remaining undisclosed — the upcoming campaign looms as a pivotal moment in his Ferrari tenure.
“The 2026 season represents a huge challenge for everyone, probably the biggest regulation change I have experienced in my career,” said Hamilton.
“When a new era begins everything revolves around development, growth as a team, and moving forward in the same direction.
“As a driver, being involved from the very start in the development of such a different car has been a particularly fascinating challenge, working closely with the engineers to help define a clear direction for the it.
“It will be an extremely important year from a technical perspective, with the driver playing a central role in energy management, understanding the new systems and contributing to the car’s development.
“It is a challenge we face together as a team, supported by the extraordinary passion of Ferrari’s tifosi, which means so much to all of us.”
Leclerc, now entering his eighth season as a Ferrari race driver, echoed Hamilton’s focus on the technical demands of the new regulations.
“We have already experienced major regulatory changes together, so we know how complex this challenge can be, but we are working with a lot of motivation to arrive on track as well prepared as possible.
“Energy management and the power unit will be among the most significant aspects – a fascinating challenge which will require us drivers to adapt quickly, relying more on instinct to begin with, and then increasingly on precise data.”
Testing and season opener confirmed
With the introduction of all-new regulations, Formula 1 has scheduled three pre-season tests ahead of the opening race.
The first will take place behind closed doors in Barcelona from January 26-30. Two further tests will follow in Bahrain on February 11-13 and February 18-20.
After testing concludes, teams will have two weeks to finalise preparations for the championship’s opening round.
The 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8. Practice sessions start on Friday, 6 March, qualifying follows on Saturday, 7 March, and the first race of the new era takes place on Sunday, 8 March.
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