Scuderia Ferrari HP today launched the SF-26, the car with which it will contest the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. It is the 72th different Formula 1 car built by the Maranello-based team. This year sees the introduction of new technical and sporting regulations, a veritable sea change for motor racing’s blue riband category. The main talking points are lighter cars, a fundamental rethink of aerodynamic concepts, and a new generation of power units. The launch took place today at Fiorano Circuit.
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A new era: The SF-26 has been designed to meet the all-new regulations, prompting a complete rethink of the car’s architecture. The chassis abandons ground-effect aerodynamics in favour of a different approach, with cleaner lines and an overall philosophy focused on reducing weight and improving efficiency, in line with the objectives set by Formula 1 for these regulations. The power unit is also a major step forward: a new hybrid generation, eliminating the MGU-H and boosting the MGU-K to 350 kW, further increasing the contribution of the electric system. This required a completely new design approach and close integration between chassis and power unit.
Charles Leclerc: “The 2026 regulations demand an even higher level of preparation, particularly for us drivers. There are many new systems to understand and optimise, which is why we have been heavily involved from the early stages of the project’s development. During my time with Scuderia Ferrari HP we have already experienced major regulatory changes together, so we know how complex this challenge can be, but we are working with a lot of motivation to arrive on track as well prepared as possible. Energy management and the power unit will be among the most significant aspects – a fascinating challenge which will require us drivers to adapt quickly, relying more on instinct to begin with, and then increasingly on precise data. The support of the fans will be especially important this season: it is what makes Ferrari so unique and pushes us to give our very best.“
Lewis Hamilton: “The 2026 season represents a huge challenge for everyone, probably the biggest regulation change I have experienced in my career. When a new era begins everything revolves around development, growth as a team, and moving forward in the same direction. As a driver, being involved from the very start in the development of such a different car has been a particularly fascinating challenge, working closely with the engineers to help define a clear direction for the it. It will be an extremely important year from a technical perspective, with the driver playing a central role in energy management, understanding the new systems and contributing to the car’s development. It is a challenge we face together as a team, supported by the extraordinary passion of Ferrari’s tifosi, which means so much to all of us.“
Design, colour, and identity. In line with the new regulations, the SF-26 features cleaner, more streemlined lines, with proportions that convey a greater sense of lightness and agility. From the earliest stages, the designers focused on functional simplicity, creating a robust and flexible concept, ready to be developed throughout the season as more data is acquired from the track. The season’s livery connects Ferrari’s past, present, as the team moves into the new technical era. It serves as the main visual element of continuity while also introducing significant updates compared with the recent history of Scuderia Ferrari HP. One of the most distinctive features is the return to gloss paint, after seven seasons of matte finish. The 2026 Rosso Scuderia colour is brighter and more intense, with a bold, striking look inspired by the special livery seen at Monza in 2025. The colour also maintains continuity with the red used around the turn of the millennium, reaffirming Ferrari’s core values of passion, courage, and identity. Alongside the red, the white, historically used sparingly but distinctively, takes on a new role. Positioned around the cockpit area and on the engine cover, it creates a strong, balanced visual contrast, making the car instantly recognisable. Together, red and white define a balance that goes beyond colour alone: a dialogue between established roots and a forward-looking vision, in which the historic identity of Scuderia Ferrari HP continues to evolve to meet new technical and sporting challenges.
Source: Ferrari Media Centre