Ferrari opens a new chapter as Vasseur hails “beginning of a new era” with SF‑26

Ferrari ushered in its 2026 Formula One campaign on Friday with the unveiling of the SF‑26, a car that Team Principal Fred Vasseur describes as both a technical reset and a cultural milestone for the Scuderia.

Speaking at the launch, Vasseur underlined the scale of the challenge posed by the sweeping regulation changes and the determination within Maranello to meet them head‑on.

Vasseur stressed that the SF‑26 is more than just the next step in Ferrari’s development cycle. “The SF‑26 marks the beginning of a new era for both Formula 1 and Ferrari, with new regulations introduced in the same year for the chassis and the power unit, as well as new fuels and new tyre sizes,” he said, highlighting the unprecedented convergence of technical shifts arriving simultaneously.

The Ferrari boss emphasised the collective effort behind the project, noting that the car embodies months of intense collaboration across the organisation

“This car is the result of a tremendous team effort and represents the start of a completely new journey, built around a different set of rules that inevitably brings a number of unknowns,” he explained.

Despite those uncertainties, Vasseur insisted that the atmosphere inside the team is stronger than ever. “The team is aligned and more united than ever as we look ahead to the season,” he added.

Attention now turns to Barcelona, where Ferrari will begin its first on‑track assessments of the SF‑26. Vasseur made clear that the early running will be focused on learning rather than chasing performance headlines.

“From next week in Barcelona, we will begin the process of understanding and validating the car. In this initial phase, the priority will be to learn as much as possible and to start building solid foundations ahead of the opening race,” he said.