Ferrari SF-26 shows early signs of favoring Charles Leclerc over Lewis Hamilton in 2026 testing
Ferrari fans are eagerly watching the emerging intra-team rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, hoping that this year’s battle could finally decide the drivers’ championship for the Scuderia. Ferrari has not seen a driver lift the title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, but the 2026 regulations and the new SF-26 offer renewed optimism after a challenging 2025 campaign that left the tifosi wanting more.
During the 2025 season, Charles Leclerc claimed all seven of Ferrari’s Grand Prix podiums and finished the championship 86 points clear of teammate Lewis Hamilton, highlighting the Monegasque driver’s dominance within the team. While Lewis Hamilton appears to be gradually adapting to the driving style required to extract maximum performance from the updated Ferrari, early testing suggests that the 28-year-old may already have a performance edge, particularly in handling the nuances of the SF-26 chassis.
Renowned motorsport journalist Nelson Valkenburg observed the first three days of 2026 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit and noted clear signs that Charles Leclerc might be more in tune with the transformed car. Valkenburg analyzed that the SF-26 showed significant improvements compared to its predecessor, particularly at the rear, which previously struggled in cornering. He indicated that the car’s setup had been refined to such an extent that Charles Leclerc could have posted even faster lap times, had he not made minor errors in the final sector of his runs.
The sports commentator at FOX Sports also highlighted Ferrari’s power unit progress, noting that the engine appeared reliable and capable of accumulating mileage consistently throughout the test. While the media focus has largely centered on Red Bull and Mercedes, Ferrari’s improvements position the team as a potential “dark horse” in the early stages of the 2026 season. Valkenburg suggested that the continued development of the power unit, particularly in terms of drivability and overall implementation, could further enhance Charles Leclerc’s prospects as a championship contender.
By contrast, Lewis Hamilton appeared to struggle with the SF-26 in the initial days of testing. Nelson Valkenburg observed that the seven-time world champion seemed less comfortable with the car and the new regulations, indicating that Hamilton might require more adaptation before he can match Charles Leclerc’s pace and consistency.
Data analysis from Bahrain testing
Ferrari completed an impressive number of laps over the first three days in Bahrain, surpassing both Red Bull and Mercedes in total mileage. Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton demonstrated slightly better long-run pace than Charles Leclerc, but several factors need to be considered before drawing conclusions. Fuel loads, engine modes, and individual run plans were unknown, which could have influenced lap times. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton ran during a cooler part of the day, theoretically offering faster conditions, while Kimi Antonelli ultimately set the fastest lap of the test in the final afternoon session.
Ferrari engineers also identified braking issues during the Bahrain tests, prompting the team to plan significant upgrades to the power unit before the start of the 2026 season. The British driver appeared to lock up his brakes more frequently than his Maranello teammate, suggesting that resolving these technical challenges could narrow the performance gap between the two drivers.
Overall, early signs from Bahrain indicate that while Lewis Hamilton is adapting to Ferrari’s updated SF-26, Charles Leclerc is currently in a stronger position to extract maximum performance. As the Scuderia continues refining its car and power unit, the intra-team battle promises to be a central storyline in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Charles Leclerc potentially poised to make a serious challenge for his first drivers’ championship alongside Lewis Hamilton.
