Alpine chief identifies Ferrari as potential pacesetter after evaluating Bahrain performance. Ferrari’s SF-26 has impressed during Bahrain F1 testing.

Ferrari’s approach to the early stages of Formula 1 pre-season testing has been deliberately discreet, yet signs are emerging that the Scuderia could have produced the benchmark car for the new campaign. While much of the early attention focused on other front-running teams, particularly after Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets during the Barcelona shakedown at the end of January, Ferrari quietly compiled an equally impressive body of work in the background.

At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Lewis Hamilton’s headline lap time drew significant media interest, especially as Mercedes completed a remarkable 500 laps across the session. However, Ferrari were not far behind in terms of productivity, logging 440 laps — the second-highest total overall. That consistency immediately suggested strong reliability from the SF-26, even if the Italian team chose not to chase outright performance headlines at that stage.

The momentum continued in Bahrain. Haas driver Esteban Ocon openly praised what he described as the incredible reliability of the Ferrari power unit, underlining how consistently the car was able to complete long runs without interruption. Although the true pace of the SF-26 remains partially concealed by varying fuel loads and programme differences, the first meaningful performance indicators have started to surface.

Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap on day two of testing in Sakhir, yet it was not the single-lap performance that generated the most interest within the paddock. Instead, it was Ferrari’s long-run pace — particularly under higher fuel loads — that began to attract serious attention from rival teams and observers.

Steve Nielsen impressed by Ferrari race pace in Bahrain testing

Following the opening day of running in Bahrain, the early narrative — strongly encouraged by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff — suggested that Red Bull might once again be setting the standard. However, that assessment evolved as more data became available.

Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen reassessed the competitive picture. Although he acknowledged that conclusions during testing can shift rapidly from day to day, he indicated that Ferrari had made a compelling case to be considered the class of the field based on their race simulations.

Nielsen reflected that, had he been asked immediately after the Barcelona shakedown, he would likely have identified Mercedes as the team to beat. By midweek in Bahrain, his impression might have favoured Red Bull. Yet after observing Ferrari’s long-run performance — particularly Leclerc’s extended evening stint — his view had shifted again. He emphasized that Alpine were focused primarily on executing their own programme, but stressed that long runs provide the clearest insight into competitive order. In that area, he suggested Ferrari looked especially impressive.

Such comments carry weight, particularly given that Alpine use Mercedes power units, which makes Nielsen’s praise of Ferrari’s chassis performance all the more notable.

Ferrari’s emphasis on race pace comes at a crucial moment. Despite securing seven podium finishes last season, the Scuderia failed to convert any into race victories. That statistic has placed considerable pressure on team principal Frédéric Vasseur and the Maranello leadership as Formula 1 enters a new regulatory era. With expectations traditionally high at Ferrari, the need to deliver a genuine title contender in 2026 is more intense than ever.

Adding further intrigue to the competitive picture, McLaren driver Lando Norris suggested during a Thursday evening interview with Sky that his team were not particularly close to Ferrari when analysing long-run data. If accurate, that assessment reinforces the impression that Ferrari’s race pace could be among the strongest in the field.

However, strong high-fuel performance must ultimately be matched by competitive single-lap speed. Championship campaigns are built on both qualifying execution and race-day consistency. Encouragingly for Ferrari, Leclerc’s outright pace suggests the SF-26 may possess both attributes.

Trackside observations have also provided useful insights. Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli noted that Ferrari appeared to be managing understeer during certain phases of running. Despite that characteristic, Charles Leclerc seemed able to dial in a set-up that delivered both stability and tyre preservation across longer stints — a crucial factor under the current generation of Pirelli tyres.

Importantly, Ferrari are not standing still. The team are reportedly preparing a substantial package of upgrades for the second Bahrain test, potentially allowing them to unlock further performance before pre-season concludes. That aggressive development approach underlines the sense of urgency within Maranello as they aim to start the season on the front foot.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s early verdict on the 2026 Formula 1 cars has been measured rather than enthusiastic. The seven-time world champion indicated earlier in the week that the cars felt significantly slower, even comparing their pace to that of GP2 machinery. However, a direct comparison with last year’s Formula 2 qualifying times at Sakhir places that comment into context. A 1:44.0 lap was sufficient for pole position in Formula 2, whereas Leclerc’s benchmark lap in Bahrain testing was nearly ten seconds faster.

Overall lap times suggest that the 2026 cars are closer to 2025 performance levels than initially predicted. The perception of reduced speed may stem from the notable decrease in aerodynamic downforce, which alters driver sensation and cornering feel rather than necessarily reducing absolute lap time to the dramatic extent first feared.

While the Maranello team have maintained a relatively low public profile throughout early testing, the data emerging from Bahrain paints an increasingly encouraging picture. Their reliability has been strong, their long-run pace eye-catching, and their development trajectory aggressive. With further upgrades on the way and competitive race simulations already turning heads, the SF-26 may yet prove to be the reference point as the new Formula 1 era begins.