P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has rejected the notion that any F1 team will be “aggressive” with its philosophy to its 2026 car at launch, but has explained one area where his team will adopt such an approach.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur announced that the Italian team will complete the construction of its 2026 F1 car just one day before the official launch scheduled for January 23.
The tactic of finalizing the car right before the unveiling is meant to be fiercely competitive and to anticipate the strategies of rival teams.
Following the car’s initial testing at Fiorano, the Scuderia will head to Barcelona for a private test beginning on January 26 for a five-day session.
Teams will have three days each to fine-tune their cars during this exclusive test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before moving on to the official three-day tests in Bahrain in February.
The extended pre-season running is crucial due to significant changes in power unit and chassis regulations, aiming to ensure teams are well-prepared for the upcoming F1 season.
Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari’s development approach for the new car would not be labeled as aggressive, conservative, or risky, as only the results in Bahrain would reveal the strategic choices made by different teams.
