Charles Leclerc was pushing the Ferrari SF-26 to the absolute limit during the afternoon of Day 3 of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain when he suddenly lost control of the car. Could Ferrari be struggling with rear-end instability? The Monegasque driver’s visible gesture of frustration immediately sparked questions — here is the VIDEO and the full analysis.
The Maranello team completed the Bahrain test without major reliability concerns, allowing Charles Leclerc to explore the limits of the SF-26 in the final hours of the last session. However, during an aggressive qualifying simulation run, the Ferrari driver suffered a snap of oversteer and reacted with a clear sign of irritation inside the cockpit.
Ferrari focuses on qualifying simulation during final Bahrain session
The afternoon programme was dedicated exclusively to short runs and outright performance. In the final session of pre-season testing, Ferrari chose to fully explore the potential of the SF-26, shifting its attention to peak pace and working extensively on car setup.
Earlier in the morning, the team had focused more on race pace simulations in very high track temperatures. In contrast, the afternoon was all about extracting lap time. Charles Leclerc first ran the C3 compound before switching to the softer C4 tyre in search of maximum performance.
During several push laps, however, mistakes crept in. The rear of the car appeared nervous under traction, leading to visible corrections from Charles Leclerc. At one point, he locked up heavily into Turn 1, producing a long plume of smoke under braking.
Lock-ups and unstable rear: is the SF-26 lacking balance?
During our live commentary, we closely observed Ferrari’s behaviour on flying laps. It is important to stress that setting the fastest lap time at this stage means very little, as none of the main rivals have shown their full hand. Many in the paddock suggest Mercedes could be leading the pack, while McLaren and Red Bull also look firmly in contention.
As the session progressed, Charles Leclerc continued to push the SF-26 harder and harder, occasionally overstepping the limit. Between runs, Ferrari mechanics made front wing adjustments, increasing the angle of incidence by adding an extra nolder flap element in an attempt to dial in more front-end grip.
Despite those changes, Charles Leclerc struggled at times with rear stability, particularly on corner exit from Turn 4. The most critical phase appeared to be traction out of Turn 11 — a left-hander taken under combined braking where drivers must get back on the throttle early to avoid losing time along the following section.
On one flying lap, the rear stepped out aggressively at Turn 11, forcing the #16 to apply a sharp correction to avoid a spin. After catching the car with a firm steering input, Charles Leclerc made a clear gesture of frustration, suggesting that the balance was not entirely to his liking.
Ferrari’s overall testing programme has been solid, but the SF-26 does not currently appear to be the clear car to beat. This generation of Formula 1 cars is known to be more unstable at the rear, and it is precisely in that area that the Maranello team introduced updates aimed at increasing aerodynamic load.
The coming race weekends will reveal whether these small warning signs are simply part of the learning process or early indicators of a more significant balance issue. For now, Ferrari leaves Bahrain with useful data — but also with questions to answer ahead of the season opener.
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