Ferrari passes major 2026 F1 obstacle

Ferrari has completed a major obstacle facing all teams ahead of the new power-unit regulations next season, with the Scuderia having passed the necessary crash tests.

According to Motorsport Italy, Ferrari has passed the crash tests with its car for next season — something Cadillac has also done.

However, F1's newest entry did so with a heavy chassis, while information on other teams remains minimal. There is no obligation for a team to report to the media that it has passed crash tests.

F1's regulation change from next season means that all teams must produce a car that complies with different rules, meaning completely new safety requirements must be met regarding crash structures.

This is to protect drivers from frontal and lateral impacts and to ensure the cockpit remains as safe as possible.

There is a significant amount riding on Ferrari's car for next season, following confirmation from team principal Fred Vasseur that the team switched its focus to 2026 last April.

Ferrari opted for a huge gamble in ending development of its 2025 car, a decision that has hurt both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton endured a disastrous Qatar Grand Prix, suffering elimination in the first part of both Sprint qualifying and qualifying for the grand prix.

Should Ferrari fail to design a competitive package for the new regulations, it could spell the end of the seven-time world champion's career.

The entirety of the ground-effect era has been a struggle for Hamilton, with the current regulations not working in favour of his driving style.

Photo: 2026 concept, Sean Bull Design