Ferrari F1 launch live: Lewis Hamilton drives new 2026 car in Fiorano
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc drive the 2026 car as the SF-26 is unveiled on Friday in Maranello
Ferrari are the latest team to unveil their 2026 F1 car livery at their launch event on Friday, just six weeks out from the start of the new season in Australia.
Red Bull started the launch season last week with an extravagant event in partnership with new engine partner Ford in Detroit, revealing the liveries for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls with Max Verstappen on hand.
This week, Haas, Audi and Mercedes all published digital renders of their 2026 challengers with Ferrari and Alpine to follow on Friday. McLaren launch their event on 9 February, as do Aston Martin, while Cadillac will unveil their new livery in an advert during the Super Bowl.
Anticipation is high at the Scuderia and for drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, after a disappointing 2025 campaign when they failed to win a grand prix.
Follow live coverage of Ferrari’s launch with The Independent.
Lewis Hamilton on 'fascinating challenge' of 2026 car:
“The 2026 season represents a huge challenge for everyone, probably the biggest regulation change I have experienced in my career.
“When a new era begins everything revolves around development, growth as a team, and moving forward in the same direction. As a driver, being involved from the very start in the development of such a different car has been a particularly fascinating challenge, working closely with the engineers to help define a clear direction for it.
“It will be an extremely important year from a technical perspective, with the driver playing a central role in energy management, understanding the new systems and contributing to the car’s development.
“It is a challenge we face together as a team, supported by the extraordinary passion of Ferrari’s tifosi, which means so much to all of us.”
Ferrari on colour scheme:
“The 2026 Rosso Scuderia colour is brighter and more intense, with a bold, striking look inspired by the special livery seen at Monza in 2025.
“The colour also maintains continuity with the red used around the turn of the millennium, reaffirming Ferrari’s core values of passion, courage, and identity. Alongside the red, the white, historically used sparingly but distinctively, takes on a new role.
“Positioned around the cockpit area and on the engine cover, it creates a strong, balanced visual contrast, making the car instantly recognisable.
“Together, red and white define a balance that goes beyond colour alone: a dialogue between established roots and a forward-looking vision, in which the historic identity of Scuderia Ferrari HP continues to evolve to meet new technical and sporting challenges.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur: 'Team aligned and more united than ever'
“The SF-26 marks the beginning of a new era for both Formula 1 and Ferrari, with new regulations introduced in the same year for the chassis and the power unit, as well as new fuels and new tyre sizes.
“This car is the result of a tremendous team effort and represents the start of a completely new journey, built around a different set of rules that inevitably brings a number of unknowns.
“The team is aligned and more united than ever as we look ahead to the season.
“From next week in Barcelona, we will begin the process of understanding and validating the car. In this initial phase, the priority will be to learn as much as possible and to start building solid foundations ahead of the opening race.”
More images of the SF-26:
Ferrari's 2026 F1 car
The first image of the new car:
Launch event coming up!
We’re just moments away from the start of Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car reveal, with the SF-26 taking to the track shortly in Fiorano.
Here are the key dates for the opening weeks of the season:
PRE-SEASON TEST 1 (private)
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - 26-30 January
PRE-SEASON TEST 2
Bahrain International Circuit - 11-13 February
PRE-SEASON TEST 3
Bahrain International Circuit -18-20 February
ROUND 1 - AUSTRALIA
Albert Park, Melbourne - 6-8 March
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