Ferrari struggling to ease concerns over key element of Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 F1 car

Concerns growing over Ferrari’s 2026 F1 engine development

Fred Vasseur’s decision to halt the development of Ferrari’s 2025 car as early as April shifted the team’s focus entirely onto the upcoming regulation changes. The aim was to avoid using valuable wind tunnel time on this season’s car when all efforts needed to be directed toward next year.

However, reports from Corriere Della Sera suggest that despite being well into their 2026 preparations, concerns are growing around whether Ferrari’s new engine is progressing as planned. The team has also been hit by the loss of several important engineers who have moved on to rival teams.

The overhaul coming next year will place a greater emphasis on power units than ever before, with teams required to use engines split evenly between electrical and combustion power. Alongside Audi, Honda, Mercedes, and Red Bull, Ferrari is one of five manufacturers building towards this standard.

Ferrari is working hard to get back on track. They plan to reveal their new car at Fiorano during the week of January 20 and will run an immediate shakedown at their test circuit before heading into a closed pre-season session in Barcelona.

Audi’s 2026 F1 engine may be further along than Ferrari’s

Before their entry into Formula 1 in 2026, Audi moved to strengthen their technical team by bringing in key personnel from Maranello. Wolf Zimmermann, who played a significant role in Ferrari’s engine programme since joining from Mercedes in 2014, is now part of the Audi setup.

There have been growing rumours within the paddock suggesting that Audi’s engine development for the new regulations might be outpacing Ferrari’s. The departures of Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt to Audi have only added to concerns about the lack of progress on Ferrari’s side.

In response, Ferrari has recruited heavily from Renault after Alpine shut down its works engine division. However, these new additions have quickly voiced doubts about whether Ferrari’s power unit is up to standard under the upcoming rules.