Ferrari makes final decision over ‘revolutionary’ Project 678 engine – report

Ferrari is to press ahead with plans to include steel alloy cylinder heads in its F1 2026 engine design, it has been claimed.

It comes after reports emerged in October that the Italian team has been working on a ‘revolutionary’ power unit for F1’s new era.

F1 2026 rumour: Ferrari commits to steel cylinder heads with new engine

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Ferrari suffered its third winless season of this decade in 2025 as the team finished a disappointing fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Charles Leclerc was restricted to just seven podium finishes last year, with new signing Lewis Hamilton failing to record a top-three finish across a season for the first time in his career.

The F1 2026 season, which will see the chassis and engine rules overhauled simultaneously, is set to offer Ferrari the chance to return to winning ways.

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As reported in Italy, it emerged in October that Ferrari was developing a ‘revolutionary’ engine design for its 2026 car – codenamed Project 678 – featuring a ‘top secret’ intake system.

It was said that the 2026 Ferrari engine would be launched with aluminium cylinder heads after a ‘highly innovative’ steel cylinder head design – pioneered by outgoing engine boss Wolf Zimmermann – was ‘abandoned’ due to reliability concerns.

However, it has emerged that Ferrari has now committed to the steel cylinder heads for 2026.

A report by the Italian edition of Motorsport.com has claimed that Ferrari has achieved something of a breakthrough in the development of its steel cylinder heads.

Ferrari engineers were initially uncertain that the steel cylinder heads could achieve the necessary mileage for 2026, which limits each driver to four internal combustion engines over the course of the 24-race season.

This led to the team developing cylinder heads made from aluminium in parallel to the steel solution.

However, Ferrari reportedly called upon the help of Austrian-based engine specialist AVL to improve the durability of the steel cylinder heads.

The progress made over recent months is said to have convinced Ferrari to focus entirely on the steel cylinder heads for 2026.

Aluminium had previously been regarded as the material of choice for cylinder head construction due to its low weight.

With the minimum weight of the power unit increasing from 120 to 150 kilograms for F1 2026, however, it is said that engineers no longer deem maximum lightweight construction to be a crucial consideration in engine design.

It is hoped that the use of the steel cylinder heads, which produce pressures and temperatures ‘that have never been reached before’ during the ignition process, will result in more efficient combustion despite the increased weight.

The report adds that Ferrari has also developed a new high-tech battery thought to be lighter and more compact than previous versions, with the new engine also requiring smaller radiators.

These developments are expected to bring an advantage in terms of the car’s packaging.

Zimmermann, Ferrari’s head of ICE research and development since 2014, and his deputy Lars Schmidt are both set to leave Ferrari ahead of the F1 2026 season.

The pair are expected to reunite at the new Audi F1 team, where former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto holds the dual role of chief operating and chief technical officer.

Rumours emerged last month suggested that two 2026 engine manufacturers, Mercedes and Red Bull-Ford, have identified a loophole in the 2026 engine rules related to the compression ratio.

As reported by PlanetF1.com in November, Project 678 is also set to feature a pushrod suspension layout at both the front and rear of the car.

A double-pushrod suspension, also thought to have been pursued by Red Bull, is expected to bring a number of technical advantages, including with the packaging of the new power unit.

It will make Project 678 the first Ferrari F1 car to have a pushrod rear suspension since 2010.

Ferrari announced last month that Project 678 will be officially launched on January 23, three days before the start of F1’s behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona.

Although five days of testing will take place at the Spanish Grand Prix venue, each team will be limited to a maximum of three days of running.

Fred Vasseur, the Ferrari team principal, revealed earlier this week that the team will effectively field two different versions of its 2026 car in testing.

A launch-spec version will appear in Barcelona as the team focuses on mileage and verifying critical design elements like the packaging and performance of its new engine.

Ferrari will then produce a B-spec car for the remaining two tests in Bahrain in mid-February as attention turns to performance.

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