OFFICIAL: FERRARI TO LAUNCH SF-26 AT FIORANO ON JANUARY 23RD BEFORE BARCELONA SHAKEDOWN
Ferrari is ready! Discover the SF-26 launch plans, secret Barcelona test dates, and Hamilton’s first drive in the 2026 F1 car.
Ferrari is almost done prepping the cars Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will drive for the first test under F1’s 2026 rules in Barcelona.
This isn’t your usual pre-season test, though. Formula 1 is calling it a shakedown, and they’re keeping things private—no fans, no media, just teams running their new machines behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30. It’s all about letting the teams work out the kinks before anyone gets a real look at these new cars.
And these new cars? They’re the product of the biggest rule shakeup F1’s ever seen. New engines, aero, chassis, tyres—the works. Ferrari actually stopped developing their 2025 car way back in April, just so they could throw everything at the 2026 project. They’re serious about ending their title drought, which has dragged on since 2008.
Fans won’t get to see Ferrari’s 2026 car for themselves until the official pre-season test in Bahrain, happening February 11 to 13. There’s another public test in Bahrain the following week, from February 18 to 20. After that, it’s straight to Australia for the season opener on March 6.
Ferrari is also planning to run a third sidepod design right out of the gate in Australia. Audi actually beat them to the track with their 2026 car, sneaking in a filming day in Barcelona last Friday. Ferrari’s own shakedown and filming day is set for Fiorano on January 23.
That’s also when they’ll show off the livery for the SF-26—the car Hamilton and Leclerc will race in 2026. Don’t expect any technical deep dives, though. Teams are playing things close to the chest until the cars hit the track. For Bahrain, Ferrari is bringing a sidepod setup they won’t even use in Australia. According to FunoAnalisiTecnica, they’re ready to toss the Bahrain sidepods once the first race rolls around. In fact, they’ve got two sidepod concepts lined up just for those tests.
In Barcelona, Ferrari is keeping things simple. They want to rack up as many miles as possible with a basic aero package. For Bahrain, they’ve cooked up a sidepod with a bigger entry, but that’s just for testing—they’re not planning to race it.
These pre-season tests won’t be easy. Ferrari has struggled the past few years to match their wind tunnel and simulation data with what happens on track. They know they need to nail this correlation before the season starts.
Team boss Fred Vasseur isn’t interested in showing off or chasing headlines during testing. His focus is squarely on reliability and collecting data, not lap times. Ferrari wants to keep their true performance a secret until racing starts in Australia. With all the new engine and aero rules coming in, they’re convinced that flying under the radar is the way to go.
So, if you’re hoping to see what Ferrari’s really got, you’ll have to wait for qualifying in Melbourne. That’s when we’ll finally see if Hamilton and Leclerc have the car to chase down Ferrari’s first drivers’ title since 2007—and maybe the constructors’ trophy too.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
