Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Ferrari design already under threat despite early ‘crucial’ advantage

Ferrari introduced the SF-26 with a brief run at Fiorano on Friday, giving fans an early look at Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s new car ahead of the 2026 F1 season.

The team took the wraps off the SF-26 in the morning, with Hamilton and Leclerc sharing a short five-lap session around the Fiorano circuit. It was classified as a shakedown, which allows for up to 15km of running under F1 regulations.

Hamilton caused a bit of confusion when he stopped just before finishing his first lap, but it turned out to be part of Ferrari’s plan. They wanted him to complete an installation lap before both drivers finished two laps each within their distance allowance.

With new engine, aerodynamic, chassis and tyre rules coming into play for 2026 – marking one of the most significant overhauls in F1 history – Ferrari are counting on these changes to help them end their title drought that stretches back to 2007 for drivers and 2008 for constructors.

Ferrari’s shakedown hints at highly refined engine packaging for the SF-26

Hamilton put Ferrari’s new active aero system through its paces right from his first lap. The 2026 regulations have introduced active aero on both the front and rear wings to address concerns about the new engines, which feature a near-even split between electrical and internal combustion power.

The Maranello-based team has opted for high-mounted air intakes on their latest car, while the sidepods themselves are extremely compact. This design could prove ‘crucial’ to their performance, allowing for more efficient airflow and better integration of key components.

This was supported by a notably slim rear end, indicating that Ferrari have prioritised airflow management and rear diffuser efficiency. It’s important to note, though, that this wasn’t the finished product – there are still updates planned before we see the car in race trim.

Ferrari to Scrap Early Sidepod Designs Used in Pre-Season Testing

Ferrari won’t be running a final version of their 2026 car during pre-season testing. Instead, they’re using the shakedown in Barcelona and the first of two official sessions in Bahrain to collect data before locking in any major updates. The real car might not make its debut until the opening race weekend.

The team plans to introduce a third version of their 2026 sidepod design for the season opener in Australia, following initial versions tested in Barcelona and Bahrain. It’s still uncertain if any early advantages observed will carry through once racing begins.

With major changes to both engine and aero regulations this season, Ferrari are focused on gathering as much information as possible during early testing. Hamilton knows well just how challenging it’ll be under these new rules, especially with how critical energy management will become under the updated power unit format.