Ferrari addresses reliability concerns after SF-26 shakedown
Ferrari have addressed speculation surrounding the reliability of their car after Lewis Hamilton took the team’s newly unveiled SF-26 for its maiden outing at the Fiorano circuit this morning, marking the Scuderia’s entry into the 2026 Formula 1 era, reports BritPanorama.
A significant number of Tifosi gathered around the test facility to witness both the launch and the initial laps of Ferrari’s challenger for the new power unit regulations.
Ferrari becomes the sixth constructor to engage in track running with their 2026 machinery, joining Audi, Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Mercedes, and Alpine in recent weeks.
Video footage quickly circulated on social media showing Hamilton’s car coming to a halt on the short straight near the garage area. Speculation emerged concerning potential reliability issues affecting the Italian team’s new machine, with one clip capturing the SF-26 stationary on track after moving forward just a few metres.
In response to the online reaction, a team spokesman confirmed to The Race that there were “no issues” with the car and that the stoppage had been entirely intentional. The regulations governing demonstration events limit the track to a maximum of 15 kilometres, equating to approximately five laps of the circuit. Ferrari had to carefully manage their distance during the session to comply with these restrictions.
Hamilton completed roughly two and a half laps, including one lap following a camera car and another independent lap, ending with a practice start before the car was recovered to the garage. His teammate Charles Leclerc followed with a similar run, with both drivers’ sessions orchestrated to remain within the permitted limit.
Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in 2025 was notably disappointing, as he failed to secure a podium finish across all 24 grands prix — a first in his illustrious career. He faced significant challenges throughout the season and was comprehensively outpaced by Leclerc, who also endured a winless year for the fourth time during his seven seasons with the Scuderia. Ferrari’s struggles saw them fall to fourth in the constructors’ standings, marking their worst performance in recent memory.
The 2026 regulation changes offer Ferrari a potential reset, with the team hopeful that their early abandonment of development in 2025 will yield positive results moving forward. As the new season approaches, the eyes of both fans and competitors will be closely watching how the Scuderia navigates this pivotal moment in their storied history.
