Ferrari took plenty of positives from their first run with the SF-26 during the Barcelona shakedown, with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheets. But even so, plans for early upgrades to the 2026 car are already in motion.
Ferrari took plenty of positives from their first run with the SF-26 during the Barcelona shakedown, with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheets. But even so, plans for early upgrades to the 2026 car are already in motion.
The 2026 F1 season kicked off in Montmelo, where all 11 teams gathered for a five-day private test aimed at ironing out any early issues. Hamilton finished on top of the timesheets, clocking a 1:16.348 on soft Pirellis late on day five.
F1 opted to keep this session closed to fans and media over concerns that teams could struggle with reliability under the new rules. But those worries proved largely unfounded, and Ferrari came away confident in the robustness of their power unit design.
And there are some substantial changes on that front this year. The new regulations have bumped up the electrical power split to nearly half-and-half with the internal combustion engine, eliminated the MGU-H component, and required all teams to run sustainable fuels.
Ferrari planning early sidepod update to catch rivals off guard
According to reports from Italy, Ferrari are worried about their energy management after reviewing data from Leclerc and Hamilton’s runs in Barcelona. However, the shakedown was just the first step in a broader development programme for the SF-26.
Formula.it have reported that Ferrari hope to unveil a new sidepod design before the season kicks off in Australia from March 6-8. The updated look is expected to be more streamlined, featuring a bold, tapered profile.
During testing, Ferrari used larger sidepods to house the radiators, which allowed for a smaller airbox. But they now plan to reduce the size of those sidepods. The team believes their use of steel cylinder heads could be a key factor in this change.
The Maranello engineers think these steel cylinder heads can handle higher temperatures and manage heat better than traditional designs. This could allow them to use smaller radiators, helping reduce weight and potentially improving aerodynamic performance.
Ferrari are pushing the boundaries with their aero concept for the 2026 F1 regulations
Reports out of Italy had already indicated that Ferrari plan to use a third version of their new sidepod design in Australia after collecting data in Barcelona and Bahrain. They started the test with a basic package, which is expected to evolve as they work through testing in Sakhir.
Formula 1 will hold two official pre-season tests in Bahrain this year, with the Sakhir circuit said to have paid for the privilege. This left Barcelona with a more limited role, hosting only a private shakedown. Teams will be at Sakhir from February 11-13 and again from February 18-20 for two three-day public tests.
The FIA may have provided another reason why Ferrari are taking a step-by-step approach to their development. Reports suggest the governing body plans to take a closer look at Ferrari’s aero direction, given how aggressive some aspects of their design appear compared to initial expectations.
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Category: General Sports
