Ferrari reveals name for pivotal 2026 F1 car

The Ferrari F1 team will stick with its current naming convention by entering the SF-26 in the 2026 season.

Ferrari announced on Friday its 2026 car, which had internally dubbed Project 678 during its conception, will be called the SF-26, following the same naming convention as its predecessors.

Ferrari is set for a crucial year after sliding backwards in 2025, with the Fred Vasseur-led squad deciding in April to throw its full aerodynamic development behind its first challenger for F1's all-new set of regulations.

Ferrari ended the 2025 season in fourth place in the constructors' championship, without grand prix wins.

Leclerc had a strong season in 2025 but finished fifth in the standings as his patience with Ferrari continues to be tested. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton suffered a tough maiden campaign for his new employer after joining from Mercedes. An early pole-to-flag sprint win in Shanghai proved a false dawn as his adaption to his new team took longer than anticipated and the seven-time world championship is hoping the new regulations, moving away from the divisive ground-effect era of cars, can help turn around his fortunes in Maranello.

Ferrari will officially launch the SF-26 and its livery on 23 January at its headquarters in Maranello, followed by a brief shakedown on its Fiorano test track.

Team boss Vasseur has set "aggressive" targets to develop the 2026 car as late as possible, meaning he has pushed back the final assembly until the eve of the Fiorano session.

"This will be aggressive for sure, because we will finish the assembly of the car the day before the launch," Vasseur said. "The launch will be [on] 23 January in Maranello. It means that we'll finish the car on the 22nd. And this is aggressive, but everybody will do the same."

When Leclerc was asked if he still believed the Scuderia could provide him with a championship-winning car, the Monegasque replied: "I do, and next year will be a crucial year.

"The whole team is hugely motivated for next year, because it's such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of. It's now or never, so I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because it's important for the four years after."