Ferrari is said to be plotting a radical design interpretation of 2026’s new Formula 1 regulations in a bid to end the team’s World Championship drought.
The Maranello squad will enter next year with what will be its second-longest period without silverware, having last won a title back in 2008.
Therefore, pressure will be on to ensure that both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are in as strong a position as possible to challenge for glory.
And with one of the most complex rule changes seen in the sport’s history, the Scuderia is reportedly planning a risky strategy to achieve its goal.
The Italian arm of Motorsport.com has reported that it is aiming for pliability in its aerodynamic design and chassis, something which has plagued the team this year.
Its aim of achieving this will come from ensuring its engine is as light as possible. However, the new V6 hybrids are said to be around 30kg more than the current engines.
This has apparently led to Ferrari looking towards a design similar to Mercedes’ W13, with shrunken sidepods in a bid to save weight.
But it appears that there may be a significant blow to Ferrari’s chances of success in 2026, with unfortunately timed departures of key personnel from its engine department.
Ferrari engine chiefs jump ship to Audi F1 project
The same report reveals that Wolf Zimmerman, head of engine development, along with deputy Lars Schmidt, have exited Maranello to reunite with former Ferrari chief Mattia Binotto at Audi.
Writing on his blog, Italian journalist Leo Turrini has revealed that the two men’s exit from the team is coinciding with an apparent lack of significant bench testing, with the new season just six months away.
“First hypothesis, the doubts about the prospects of the 2026 engine are real, and the split is the result of a disappointment that hopefully will be disproved by the facts,” he wrote.
“Second, Zimmermann and Schmidt were convinced by Mattia Binotto, who found arguments to get him to follow them at Audi.
“After that, it’s worth cultivating the hope that Fred Vasseur knows what he’s doing.
“As of mid-September, Ferrari still hasn’t tested the entire PU on the bench. And there are three months to go until the homologation of the components.
“Engineer turnover in F1 is the norm. The lack of results facilitates the inundation of whispers.
“Winning helps you win, and when you lose, it’s not unlikely that it turns into a sort of Grand Hotel. People come, people go…”
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