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| Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
Ferrari are now putting the final touches on the cars that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will drive in the first pre-season test under F1’s 2026 regulations in Barcelona.
Formula 1 will visit the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on January 26-30 for what it is calling a shakedown, rather than a pre-season test. F1 agreed to hold a behind-closed-doors event in Montmelo to give teams privacy as their cars for the new rules post their first official laps.
The 2026 F1 regulations are the biggest overhaul of the rulebook in the series’ history, with new engine, aerodynamic, chassis and tyre rules. Ferrari stopped developing their 2025 car last April to prioritise the 2026 rules, which they hope can lead to their first title since 2008.
Fans will get their first look at the car that Ferrari have produced under the 2026 regulations at the first public pre-season test in Bahrain on February 11-13. F1 will stage a second public test in Bahrain on February 18-20, before the 2026 season begins in Australia on March 6-8.
Ferrari plan to run a third sidepod specification at the first round of the 2026 F1 season
Audi have already put their 2026 F1 car on track in Barcelona, as the German brand became the first team to run their new package after holding a filming day last Friday. Ferrari plan on holding a shakedown for their 2026 car with a filming day at Fiorano on January 23, as well.
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| Photo by Pablo Morano/Anadolu via Getty Images |
Ferrari will also unveil the livery for the SF-26 that Hamilton and Leclerc will race in 2026 on January 23, with no team expected to reveal any technical details before their car goes on a track. Yet Ferrari also plan to use sidepods in Bahrain that they will not then use in Australia.
That is according to FunoAnalisiTecnica, which reports that Ferrari intend to throw away the sidepod designs that they use in Bahrain come the first race of the 2026 season in Australia. Ferrari already have two specifications of sidepod concepts ready for the two Bahrain tests.
The Scuderia intend to use a ‘basic’ aerodynamic package in Barcelona, as they feel it will be more beneficial to record the most miles possible. Ferrari have also designed a sidepod with a ‘more generous’ entry section to be used in Bahrain, but they do not plan to race the part.
Ferrari foresee the pre-season tests posing a ‘daunting challenge’, as they must correlate the data that their CFD simulations and wind tunnel have generated prior to the first round. The Maranello squad have also encountered regular issues correlating their data in recent years.
Ferrari want to keep their 2026 car’s performance a secret until the Australian Grand Prix
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has set a clear position in Maranello that the pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain will be about generating valuable data, instead of focusing on performance. He is especially clear that data will be their goal for the Barcelona shakedown.
Vasseur has opted to prioritise reliability tests and correlating data over seeking headlines in Barcelona or Bahrain as Ferrari do not want to give rival F1 teams any clues about their 2026 car before the first race. F1’s latest engine and aero rules in particular have led to his stance.
Fans may, therefore, have to wait until qualifying for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix to know whether Ferrari have a car with which Hamilton and Leclerc can fight to secure the Scuderia their first F1 drivers’ championship since 2007 and their first constructors’ title since 2008.
- Kyle Archer
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