Charles Leclerc has outlined the scale of the task facing Ferrari under Formula 1’s new power unit regulations, calling the changes the most dramatic the sport has ever seen.
The revised rules represent a fundamental shift in F1’s technical direction.
The MGU-H has been removed, while the MGU-K has been significantly boosted, with output rising from 120kW to 350kW.
From this season, electrical power and the internal combustion engine contribute equally, marking a major step towards electrification.
Ferrari has committed fully to the new regulations. Aerodynamic development on last year’s car was halted at the end of April, allowing the team to focus entirely on its 2026 challenger, the SF-26.
The Scuderia unveiled the car last month.
Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton then completed an initial shakedown at Fiorano, before heading to the Circuit de Catalunya for several days of running that were viewed positively within the team.
The changes will demand adaptation from both teams and drivers, but Leclerc says that challenge is part of the appeal.
“I think it’s one of the biggest changes that has happened in F1 history, so it’s been particularly exciting for that reason,” Leclerc said.
“Since I arrived in F1, I’ve had one big technical change from ’21 to ’22, but this is nothing like that.
“We kind of have to relearn most of the programmes. We’ve got to understand the system a lot better in order to make the most of it.
“So there are many, many implications on the driver’s side as well — the way we drive, the way we’ll manage the racing — and this makes it a big challenge, but that’s something that excites me.
“And with all the work that has been happening behind the scenes, I was just really keen to finally try it in reality and see how it felt. So yeah, it was very exciting.”
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