The unveiling of Ferrari’s 2026 Formula One challenger has sparked immediate intrigue, with Sky Sports F1 journalist Ted Kravitz offering a striking first impression after witnessing the SF-26 in action. As the countdown to the new season intensifies, the Italian team’s latest creation has already set tongues wagging across the paddock.
With the 2026 campaign set to begin in March, several teams have begun revealing their cars, including Red Bull, Mercedes, Haas, and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Ferrari, however, commanded particular attention on Friday morning as it finally pulled the covers off the SF-26, a car expected to mark a defining chapter for the Scuderia under the sport’s sweeping new regulations.
Visually, the SF-26 carries a distinctly retro aesthetic, most notably through a heavier use of white across the livery. Beyond its appearance, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were given early track time at Fiorano, allowing fans and pundits alike a first glimpse of how the car behaves under real conditions.
Reporting live from Italy, Kravitz highlighted several immediately noticeable differences. He remarked that the car appeared more compact and visually altered, while also pointing out aerodynamic changes driven by the new rules, particularly the revised rear wing behavior. According to him, the launch felt unusually momentous, amplified by the presence of fans lining the surrounding hills.
Perhaps the most arresting detail, however, was auditory rather than visual. Kravitz emphasized that the SF-26 sounded dramatically different from its predecessors—louder, sharper, and more aggressive. He attributed this to fundamental engine architecture changes, including the removal of a turbine-linked component within the turbocharger system. The result, he suggested, is a crisper and more raw engine note that underlines just how transformative the 2026 regulations could prove to be for Formula One.
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