Charles Leclerc at the presentation of the SF-26 He is not the first to bring the new Ferrari SF-26 to its christening in the 15 km shakedown on the Fiorano track, but it doesn’t matter: Charles Leclerc is obviously among the great protagonists of the freezing red morning, which began at 11.30 sharp with the launch on the web of the presentation video of the first Red of the new era and, practically simultaneously, with an installation lap performed by Lewis Hamilton on the historic “home” track, in front of hundreds of fans crowded on the bridge overlooking the circuit owned by Ferrari. A season, 2026, which risks being decisive for the future of the Monegasque in Maranello, given the rumors – which have been circulating for months now – of a possible wink between his entourage and Aston Martin already with a view to 2027. What is certain is that Charles Leclerc still has a long-term agreement with Ferrari, but also that if the performance of the SF-26 does not reverse the negative trend of last season, then new scenarios could also materialize for a driver who has never hidden his love for the Red. The first words of 2026 from the Monegasque “The 2026 rules – explains Charles Leclerc on the occasion of the presentation of the SF-26 – require even more in-depth preparation, especially for us drivers. There are many new systems to understand and make the most of, and for this we have worked hard since the initial stages of the project’s development. In my years with Scuderia Ferrari we have already experienced important regulatory changes together: we know how complex the challenge is, but we are working with great motivation to arrive on the track as prepared as possible”. “Energy and power unit management will be one of the most significant aspects, a stimulating challenge that will require a rapid adaptation process from us drivers, which initially relies more on instinct and then on an ever-increasing use of precise data. The support of the fans in this Formula 1 season will be particularly important: it is what makes Ferrari so special and pushes us to always give our best”, concluded Charles Leclerc.
