After a morning disrupted by technical issues, Ferrari used the Day-2 afternoon session primarily to work on race pace simulation, with valuable insights gathered on the Sakhir track.
Morning setbacks for Ferrari
During the morning session of Day-2, the final pre-season test in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton completed just under ten laps. The SF-26 experienced a technical issue that required roughly three hours to resolve. Once the afternoon session began, the seven-time world champion returned to the track, concentrating on a full race simulation. Here’s a summary of how it went.
Hamilton takes the wheel for Ferrari
Only Lewis Hamilton drove the SF-26 during today’s session, a scheduling decision made by Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton completed a total of 78 laps for his pre-season tests. Tomorrow, Charles Leclerc will take over to finish the program for the Scuderia.
Afternoon race pace simulation: 78 laps in total
Following the morning difficulties, the British driver immediately went out on track in the afternoon to recover lost mileage. From the start, he focused primarily on a complete race simulation. It’s important to note that conditions were not race-like, as the simulation began at 3:30 p.m. local time, with the sun still high over Sakhir.
Throughout the simulation, the Briton faced challenges, likely due to a less-than-optimal feeling with the car. His second stint was interrupted by a red flag caused by Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin stopping on track. Once the track was clear, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton resumed the simulation, this time using a fresh hard (C1) tire.
The final stint proved to be relatively fast, although definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. Despite Hamilton’s difficulties and several errors, Ferrari appeared competitive compared to McLaren and Red Bull. Mercedes, on the other hand, followed a slightly different program, starting their simulation on a cooler track with more favorable conditions. While these factors are positive for comparison, it is still too early to assess the full performance of any team, including Ferrari, as track programs may have been deliberately conservative.
Ferrari’s work at the end of the session
The final hour was dedicated to a short-run simulation using medium compound (C3) tires. Ferrari may have deliberately concealed its full potential; according to Italian journalist Federico Albano, Lewis Hamilton never used eighth gear, meaning the SF-26 did not reach maximum speed on the straights. It’s impossible to draw conclusions about pace at this stage, as the Maranello team’s full program is unknown.
Overall, impressions remain positive for the Scuderia. Ferrari has clearly worked effectively throughout the winter and continues to do so on track. The true test will come in Melbourne, where performance will really count.
Lewis Hamilton has therefore successfully recovered from a difficult morning to complete 78 laps of race-pace evaluation in Bahrain, revealing a Ferrari SF-26 that looks competitive against Red Bull and McLaren, even while purposefully hiding its maximum straight-line speed.
