P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has revealed that the team’s 2026 F1 car will be launched on 23 January, with a shakedown to be held around its Fiorano test track.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has announced that the team’s 2026 Formula 1 car will debut on 23 January, inaugurated with a shakedown at the Fiorano test track. The squad faces intense pressure to craft a potent contender for the upcoming season following a lackluster 2025 plagued by setbacks. Ferrari’s fortunes took a nosedive, slipping from the top of the Constructors’ Championship battle in 2024 to a distressing position beyond the top three. Vasseur expressed the team’s ambitious strategy, aiming to break the championship dry spell dating back to 2008 by embarking on a last-minute car assembly before the unveiling. While keeping the new car’s name under wraps for now, Vasseur hinted at a suspenseful revelation during the launch event in Maranello. Additionally, Ferrari plans to focus on accumulating valuable mileage during the initial test in Barcelona with a less refined car model to assess reliability before fine-tuning for peak performance. The team’s approach under the revamped regulations underscores a shift towards prioritizing endurance over immediate speed gains to avoid early-season technical pitfalls witnessed during previous major rule alterations.
