Final weekend’s British Grand Prix victory was virtually a second of aid for Charles Leclerc, who had been searching for solutions to the set-up modifications launched after the dash in an effort to regain the sensation he had misplaced with the SF‑26. It’s a win that carries a far deeper that means than his smile on the rostrum suggests, as his gaze settles on a trophy virtually weighted by the troublesome weeks now behind him.
This has been the yr of a technical revolution, and adapting to the brand new laws has been something however simple, even for the drivers themselves. Approaching the mid‑season mark, the brand new guidelines proceed to impose driving dynamics that really feel virtually unnatural, reminiscent of lifting off earlier than the end line to handle electrical energy, simply as Mercedes did at Silverstone.
It has been a season of modifications, and in the case of Leclerc there may be one underlying matter that, whereas flying considerably below the radar, stays intriguing: his shift in method to the steering‑wheel software program. This marks a big revolution, as a result of from his first yr at Ferrari till the top of final season Leclerc had at all times saved the very same configuration, except for minimal changes.
The configuration, even again then, set him clearly other than Sebastian Vettel and from the motive force who preceded him in that seat, Kimi Raikkonen. Whereas the four-time world champion most well-liked having as a lot info as potential on the display screen in a extremely condensed format, Leclerc had already opted in 2019 for a clear and quick show, that includes massive, simply readable and direct information.
This was a format the Monegasque maintained till the top of 2025 and one which was additionally adopted by Carlos Sainz throughout his years at Maranello, with solely minimal tweaks to regulate the association of sure parts based on his preferences. In contrast to different groups, Ferrari grants its drivers a sure diploma of freedom to discover a resolution actually tailor-made to their wants and preferences. Lewis Hamilton has pushed to have a model just like the one he used for therefore a few years at Mercedes, additionally requesting modifications to the steering wheel itself.
Leclerc’s new steering wheel software program 2025 vs 2026
Photograph by: Motorsport.com
But Leclerc’s case is especially attention-grabbing as a result of it represents his first actually substantial modification since changing into a Scuderia driver in 2019. After all, one would possibly assume this was a necessity dictated by the brand new laws, however that isn’t precisely the case: most groups, except for minor changes, have maintained a really related format to that of the earlier technical cycle, each when it comes to software program and the steering wheel itself.
Unsurprisingly, Hamilton has additionally saved a steering wheel format very near the one he used final yr with the outdated hybrid energy items, including only some parts reminiscent of real-time administration of the MGU-Ok. In Leclerc’s case, nonetheless, the 2026 revolution appears to have been, above all, a chance to remodel his software program, which is now profoundly completely different from the previous.
A brand new information format and the MGU-Ok indicator
The primary main change issues the format of the knowledge. Whereas till final yr the information was introduced in a transparent and extremely seen method, it has now been utterly reorganised: many parameters, reminiscent of pace, engine RPM, accomplished and remaining laps, or brake steadiness, have been moved to the left inside small bins.
This rearrangement has freed up house within the centre for tyre temperatures (proven in comparison with a reference worth) and brake temperatures, which till the top of final season had been accessible utilizing buttons in a secondary web page, whereas additionally prominently displaying the present gear and chosen engine mode, adjustable through the central rotary swap on the steering wheel. For 2026, nonetheless, there are two different extremely intriguing additions.
As Autosport highlighted at the beginning of 2026 when looking at the McLaren’s steering wheel, Ferrari has additionally launched a vertical sidebar on the precise aspect of the display screen, which clearly exhibits the motive force how the MGU‑Ok is working. When the bar extends upwards, the MGU‑Ok is energetic, deploying vitality to the system. When the bar strikes downwards and turns pink, reminiscent of below braking or on the finish of straights throughout superclipping, the MGU‑Ok is in harvest mode, recovering vitality.
Leclerc softtware MGU-Ok utilization
Photograph by: Motorsport.com
The system that signifies to the motive force how lengthy he can use the enhance (which permits him to assault or defend by briefly rising {the electrical} energy output) has additionally been modified. There are actually 5 small pink dots that assist the motive force monitor how lengthy they will activate it, on condition that the enhance tends to make use of a giant quantity of vitality in only a few seconds.
There’s a particular turbo indicator for race begins
It’s honest to say that the race begin additionally performed a decisive position within the Silverstone victory. Ferrari’s technical decisions and the optimisation of its electronics have made the SF‑26 some of the efficient vehicles off the road for the reason that Melbourne opener, crucially guaranteeing constant efficiency in a part the place many rivals have struggled.
With out the assist of the MGU‑H and with the electrical motor restricted from deploying beneath 50 km/h, spooling the turbo and bringing it into its correct RPM vary has grow to be considerably extra complicated this yr. To extend security and assist these producers struggling on this entrance. However how do drivers know when the turbo is prepared and has reached its optimum operational RPM vary?
Whereas every group has its personal methodology, Ferrari makes use of a progressive indicator coded each with a share scale as much as 100% and a 3‑colour system (pink, white, and inexperienced, with inexperienced indicating that the turbo is prepared). It’s a easy function, however an important one nonetheless, guaranteeing the motive force at all times is aware of whether or not the system is within the right vary forward of the launch, particularly given how very important this facet has grow to be this yr.
Leclerc’s new steering wheel software program for a race begin
Photograph by: Motorsport.com
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