Ferrari already ‘up in arms’ and planning protest against F1 rivals at the 2026 Australian GP

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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has played down expectations going into the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, but the tifosi are under no illusions about how important the upcoming campaign is going to be.

After a disappointing 2025, Ferrari know that F1’s upcoming rule changes need to represent a change in their fortunes.

The Scuderia haven’t won a championship since 2008, and in Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari have two drivers more than capable of winning a title.

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Three pre-season tests stand between all 11 teams and the Australian Grand Prix, but there is already controversy brewing behind the scenes.

There are now suggestions that Ferrari are already planning a ‘protest’ against all of the Mercedes and Red Bull-powered cars over a loophole they’ve potentially found in the development of their new engines.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari planning ‘protest’ against Mercedes and Red Bull after the 2026 Australian Grand Prix

There have already been suggestions that Mercedes and Red Bull have discovered a way to potentially extract more performance from next year’s power units ahead of the season starting.

Formula 1’s new regulations are stricter than ever, with the rulebook stretching over more than 100 pages.

However, it’s believed that a loophole surrounding the compression ratio of the combustion engine has been found.

This could increase the output of the power unit by over 20 horsepower, according to Blick, giving six teams on the grid, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Alpine, Red Bull and Racing Bulls, and an immediate advantage.

The report from Blick has suggested that a ‘frustrated’ Ferrari team are already ‘up in arms’ about the discovery.

True or false? Charles Leclerc will not win an F1 title with Ferrari.

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It’s been suggested that Ferrari, and their fellow manufacturers who have not exploited the loophole, are already planning to ‘lodge a protest’ as soon as the race in Melbourne ends.

This wouldn’t be the first time something like this has happened, with Brawn GP in 2009 discovering a workaround in the sport’s ruleset that year.

They installed a double diffuser on the car, giving Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello an advantage that led the British driver to win his one and only drivers’ championship.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari told their next world champion won’t be Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc

If Ferrari’s protest against the Mercedes and Red Bull-powered cars is unsuccessful, then they face a race against time to copy their development.

Adrian Newey thinks the new ruleset will suit Hamilton better than the ground-effect era, but if he doesn’t have a championship-winning car under his belt, then he will have to continue his long wait for a first Ferrari podium.

Both Ferrari drivers are under contract beyond 2026, but they will both be considering their futures if the Scuderia are once again off the pace.

Team principal Vasseur will know that he’s unlikely to have the support of John Elkann and other senior Ferrari personnel if the team can’t keep up with the likes of Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull.

Guenther Steiner has even predicted Ferrari’s next world champion, and the fact that he doesn’t think it will be either Leclerc or Hamilton shows how little belief there is within the world of Formula 1 that the Scuderia will be the team to beat next season.