Leclerc Confirms Smooth Ferrari SF-26 Shakedown at Fiorano

Charles Leclerc has confirmed that Ferrari’s SF-26 shakedown at Fiorano proceeded without any significant issues, providing a sigh of relief for the Maranello squad. Despite challenging weather conditions, both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton successfully completed their first laps in the new 2026 car, marking a positive and emotional start to the Scuderia's new regulatory era.

Why it matters:

The initial shakedown is the first critical validation of months of intense simulation and factory work. With the radical 2026 power unit regulations resetting the competitive order, avoiding early reliability gremlins is essential for a title challenge. This event also officially kicked off the Hamilton era at Ferrari, with the seven-time champion turning his first wheel for the team in front of the passionate Tifosi.

The details:

• Procedural Success: Leclerc emphasized that the primary goal was to verify that systems were working correctly and that real-world sensors matched expectations. He confirmed there were "no big problems."
• Weather Impact: Persistent fog and a damp track prevented any meaningful performance data gathering, leaving the true pace of the SF-26 a mystery for now.
• Driver Schedule: Hamilton led the running on Friday morning before handing over duties to Leclerc, who took over in the afternoon.
• Fan Atmosphere: Hundreds of fans arrived hours early to Fiorano, creating a buzzing atmosphere that Leclerc described as adding a "very special feeling" to the debut.

What's next:

The team will now dive into data analysis to ensure the car's behavior matches their simulations. The real test awaits at official pre-season testing, where Ferrari will finally reveal whether the SF-26 has the pace to challenge for the championship under the new regulations.