The Race F1 Podcast Ferrari launches new car + Why Williams are missing crucial first test
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Jan 23, 2026 Scott Mitchell-Malm, motorsport journalist and technical analyst, breaks down Ferrari’s SF-26 launch and its cautious Fiorano shakedown. He walks through visible design features and the team’s conservative running plan. He also explains why Williams will miss the Barcelona private test and the potential consequences for their 2026 preparations.
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Fans Verified Ferrari At Fiorano
- Ferrari released renders and high-res images then rolled the real car out at Fiorano, letting fans and photographers corroborate details.
- Scott recounts fans watching from the public road and immediate independent verification of the car's design.
Ferrari's Controlled, Transparent Launch
- Ferrari staged a tightly controlled, fully-documented launch including renders, high-res photos and a Fiorano shakedown to immediately correlate design and reality.
- Scott Mitchell-Malm says this was the strongest, most transparent launch of the season so far and let observers verify the car quickly.
Stopped Car Was Planned Procedure
- Ferrari ran the Fiorano session as a demonstration with tightly scripted mileage and stops, not as an open promotional test.
- The planned halts (installation and push-lap stops) explain videos of the car stopped on circuit and quell early reliability alarmism.