Ferrari Confirms 'SF-26' Name for 2026 F1 Car

Ferrari has officially named its 2026 challenger the SF-26, marking the first car for the highly anticipated lineup of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The announcement comes as the Scuderia aims to rebound from a disastrous 2025 season with a car featuring radical technical innovations, including a revolutionary power unit and a unique pushrod suspension layout, all designed to exploit the new ground-effect regulations.

Why it matters:

• The SF-26 represents Ferrari's critical response to a winless 2025 season and a distant fourth-place finish, its worst result in years.
• This car is the foundation for the Hamilton-Leclerc super-team pairing, a partnership carrying immense pressure and expectation to deliver championships.
• With massive regulatory changes for 2026, Ferrari's aggressive technical choices could either leapfrog them to the front of the grid or risk another season of disappointment.

The details:

• The SF-26 is expected to feature a double pushrod suspension layout, a design not seen on a Ferrari since 2010. This approach is aimed at optimizing packaging for the new, more complex 2026 power units.
• Rumors suggest a 'revolutionary' new power unit, highlighted by a shift from traditional aluminum to steel alloy cylinder heads.
  • While heavier, the steel heads are said to withstand unprecedented pressures and temperatures, leading to more efficient combustion—a key factor under the new regulations.
• Further innovations reportedly include a 'top-secret' intake system, a smaller and more powerful battery, and downsized radiators to improve aerodynamic efficiency.

What's next:

• Ferrari will officially launch the SF-26 on January 23, just days before pre-season testing begins in Barcelona.
• The team plans a strategic two-part testing approach, running a 'launch-spec' A-version in Barcelona focused on reliability, before introducing a 'B-spec' performance-oriented version for the later tests in Bahrain.
• The true potential of Ferrari's ambitious 2026 project will be revealed at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8.