Ferrari fires up 2026 power unit with Hamilton and Leclerc watching

Ferrari has officially fired up its 2026 Formula 1 power unit for the first time, with Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and team principal Fred Vasseur present for the milestone. The Maranello squad released footage of the event, providing the first public audio of the engine destined for their SF-26 challenger. This follows the recent shakedown of customer team Cadillac, which also featured the new power unit on track at Silverstone.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent a massive reset for Formula 1, introducing new power unit architecture and active aerodynamics. Successfully firing up the engine early is a critical confidence booster for Ferrari as they prepare to integrate Hamilton into the team structure. It signals that development is on schedule despite the significant engineering hurdles posed by the shift towards 50% electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels.

The details:

• Key Witnesses: The presence of Hamilton and Leclerc alongside Vasseur highlights unity within the camp as they build towards the new regulations. Hamilton, joining Ferrari next season, is getting an early immersion in the project that will define his legacy with the Scuderia.
• Sound and Fury: While Cadillac's recent shakedown provided an external preview of the sound, Ferrari's internal footage confirms the power unit is operational within the factory environment.
• Personnel Moves: The engine fire-up arrives shortly after the announcement that Riccardo Adami has shifted from his role as Hamilton's designated race engineer to manage the Ferrari Driver Academy and TPC programs.

What's next:

With the engine alive, the engineering focus will shift to dyno testing and eventually installing the power unit into the SF-26 chassis. Ferrari will be aiming to maximize track time once the 2026 testing ban lifts, ensuring they hit the ground running when pre-season testing begins. The goal is clear: build a package capable of challenging the established order.