Ferrari SF-26, that’s why it’s mandatory to be optimistic

Here it is, the new Ferrari that makes its debut at Fiorano with Hamilton first and then Leclerc and excites the imagination of all of us, as well as arousing the morbid interest of rival teams. John Elkann and Piero Ferrari look at her with emotion, Fred Vasseur scrutinizes her with staid professionalism. It is an SF26 perhaps more beautiful than the “sisters” that preceded it – today there are no longer ugly cars – but with a huge question mark ideally imprinted on the fairing: will it be disappointing like the Ferrari of 2025 or will it finally be able to give us some satisfaction? When celebrating a birth it is mandatory to be optimistic for many reasons, the first of which is that it would be difficult to do worse than in the recent past, when there were no victories, we had to face the shame of two technical disqualifications and, if that wasn’t enough, an unacceptable fourth place among the constructors materialized. But the page has turned and in order to create a Ferrari worthy of its name, the development of the 2025 car was interrupted even last spring, so it is reasonable to think that the SF26 could truly be the car of the comeback. In Maranello there is everything to eliminate the distance from a world championship that has been waiting since 2007, starting with the strongest (and most expensive) driver team ever, made up of two phenomena such as Leclerc and Hamilton. In terms of technicians, in the last two years around a hundred people have arrived at the Scuderia who should have brought knowledge of what happens elsewhere, from Red Bull to Mercedes and so on. As for structures, technological capacity, culture, no one can compete with the Gestion Sportiva of Maranello. And then there is a radical change in the regulations which ends a long bitter period in which Ferrari was never able to express itself at its levels. But there are the brains capable of overturning the situation, from Vasseur who leads the team, to Loic Serra who signs his first “red”, to Enrico Gualtieri, the head of the power unit, who is very good and had excellent offers, rejected, to emigrate, to many others who are less exposed to the media. It is therefore reasonable to expect the Ferrari that will face the new championship to win a world championship (last February, perhaps in the euphoria of one too many toasts, two were promised…): it is the minimum objective, because a second place would be yet another defeat without an alibi. But precisely for this reason the championship which begins for Maranello on 23 January is a sort of year zero which presents tremendous risks. From today, in fact, no one is safe anymore, starting with Fred Vasseur who in his fourth year as commander, after having had everything he asked for from Elkann, must give results in exchange, to Lewis Hamilton who is asked to revive the glories of the past otherwise he will risk his place, prestige, continuation of his career and pieces of credibility, to the technical staff called to show their skill in front of the blank sheet of rules that are new for everyone. Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, is a separate matter, because his 2025 has elevated him to the first leader (theoretical, of course) of the team and if the victories are lacking he will be the one to say goodbye. By now Leclerc has become an acclaimed and adored idol, while Lewis has passed into oblivion perhaps too early. In this Ferrari everyone is in the balance. As if to say that if the victories arrive the pressure will ease, otherwise that nefarious climate of tension that we know well will resurface and which could lead the owners to face sensational decisions while work is in progress. Now, however, we must give credit to the great work behind the SF26, a single-seater which in the configuration seen at Fiorano (but will change a lot between now and the Australian GP on 8 March) has interesting and different details compared to the rivals shown so far. Trivial considerations, I know, however, in light of the regulatory revolution that will propose changes to the cars from race to race, it will be possible to arrive at a hypothesis of hierarchies only after 5-6 grand prix. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the hope of a Ferrari capable of returning to Ferrari, despite the stumbles along the way and the strength of the other teams. We need to reactivate a winning cycle, with the introduction of a new culture, free from mutual suspicion, capable of generating long-term trust: why not believe in it?