Ferrari is facing fresh questions about its readiness for the 2026 Formula 1 season, following reports from Italian media suggesting delays and internal pressure during the build of its new car.
The team has confirmed that its 2026 challenger, known as the SF-26, will be officially unveiled on January 23 at Maranello. A short shakedown at the Fiorano test track will follow, with final assembly due to finish just one day earlier.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have already completed their seat fittings, and the new chassis has passed FIA crash tests. Ferrari says these steps keep the project on schedule despite the tight timeline.
However, reports claim Ferrari has not yet completed its first full engine fire-up, a key step where the new power unit is started inside the car. Rival teams such as Mercedes, Honda, and Audi have already shared footage of this milestone.
Sources close to Ferrari say the engine fire-up is imminent, but the delay has raised concerns with pre-season testing starting January 26 in Barcelona. Ferrari is expected to focus on reliability during the first test runs.
The pressure is high after Ferrari finished fourth in the 2025 constructors’ championship without a race win. The team shifted focus early to 2026 in response to McLaren’s dominance, betting heavily on the regulation reset.
The 2026 rules introduce lighter cars, active aerodynamics, new hybrid power units, and fully sustainable fuel. These changes have made winter development more complex for every team on the grid.
Ferrari insiders downplay the reports, calling them normal for such an intense development phase. The team plans to test a conservative first version of the SF-26 before introducing performance upgrades.
With Lewis Hamilton chasing an eighth world title and Leclerc aiming to end Ferrari’s long championship drought, the next two weeks will be critical. The real answers will come once the SF-26 hits the track.
