The Pirelli 2026 tyre test in Abu Dhabi has officially come to an end, closing an important post-season session for all teams. Ferrari arrived with several new components to evaluate and a very busy programme, but did the Italian team run into any issues? Here is a complete breakdown of everything that happened during the day.
As previously reported, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton shared driving duties in the SF-25 configured as a mule car, adapted to simulate the lower-downforce philosophy of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Leclerc drove in the morning, while the seven-time World Champion took over in the afternoon. The car featured Monza-style wings to recreate the reduced aerodynamic load expected under the next rule cycle, and Pirelli also presented the full range of prototype compounds.
Ferrari once again tested the actuator system that controls the opening of the front flap — a solution that already appeared during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend. Compared to Mercedes’ version, Ferrari’s system appeared more refined and compact. Meanwhile, the second SF-25 in its standard configuration was handed to Dino Beganovic for the official Young Driver Test. The Swedish talent had already driven in several FP1 sessions earlier in the season, including Bahrain and Austria.
Beganovic 9th, Hamilton 11th, Leclerc 14th: Ferrari complete 270 laps
The test lasted a full nine hours, from 9:00 to 18:00 local time (6:00 to 15:00 Central European Time). The fastest driver of the day was Formula 2 vice-champion Jack Crawford, who completed 119 laps and set the benchmark time of 1:23.766.
Ferrari’s programme was extensive. Across the three drivers, the team totalled an impressive 270 laps: Charles Leclerc completed 75, Lewis Hamilton added 73, and Dino Beganovic finished the day with 122 laps — the highest mileage among the trio. Importantly, Ferrari encountered no technical problems, allowing engineers to collect clean data throughout the day.
Most cars taking part in the test were fitted only with traditional DRS and did not yet feature the new active aerodynamics of 2026. For these cars, a speed limiter capped at 300 km/h was applied to reduce downforce and create data conditions closer to the future regulations.
Only the mule cars equipped with the front straight line mode (SLM) — in this case, Ferrari and Mercedes — were allowed to run without speed limitations. However, they were required to use FIA-designated SLM activation zones around the circuit. Leclerc and Hamilton therefore had the opportunity to evaluate the car in a genuine 2026-style configuration, using the prototype steering wheel that first appeared in FP1 with Arthur Leclerc.
Lap times from the session carry no competitive meaning, as the teams’ individual run plans and fuel loads remain unknown. The key objective was purely developmental. With this test now behind them, Ferrari can shift their focus entirely to the upcoming regulatory overhaul.
Ferrari look ahead: the 2026 era begins
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have finally completed their final laps in the SF-25 — to their relief — as the team moves fully into 2026 development mode. Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur has already warned that while some familiar issues will disappear, new challenges will inevitably emerge under the radically different technical rules.
The launch of Ferrari’s new car is scheduled for the week of January 20, followed immediately by a shakedown at Fiorano. The countdown to Formula 1’s 2026 revolution has officially begun for Maranello.
Leave a Reply