The third and final day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain has come to an end, and Charles Leclerc has offered his first clear indication of where the Ferrari SF-26 stands ahead of the season opener in Melbourne. While Ferrari impressed throughout the Sakhir sessions, the Monegasque driver remains cautious in his overall assessment.
Ferrari once again showed encouraging pace during the Bahrain F1 test, yet Charles Leclerc believes there are at least two rivals currently ahead. Speaking at the conclusion of the final day of running at the Bahrain International Circuit, the Scuderia driver expressed confidence in the work carried out by the team in Maranello. The development programme appears to be progressing in the right direction, and the SF-26 seems to have been born with a solid foundation. With three more days of on-track action scheduled before the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, morale inside the Ferrari camp remains high.
With the final day of testing now complete, it is time to draw the first conclusions. As always at this stage of the year, the usual caveat applies: these are only tests. Modern Formula 1 cars are extremely complex machines, capable of masking their true performance potential through a wide range of set-up configurations and engine modes. Only the chequered flag in Melbourne will provide the first definitive indication of the competitive order on track. However, several positive signals have already emerged from at least three of the leading teams.
The first is undoubtedly Mercedes, whose overall package has looked undeniably competitive over the three days in Sakhir. The Brackley-based squad appears to have made a step forward, although its position could potentially be influenced by the recent decision taken by the F1 Commission regarding its Power Unit. Attention is also firmly focused on Red Bull, which has shown encouraging signs of strong performance as well. While McLaren appears to be slightly behind compared to its direct rivals, Ferrari has delivered a very solid showing throughout the Bahrain sessions.
Leclerc: “Satisfied, but Mercedes and Red Bull are ahead”
“It’s so difficult to understand [where we are],” explained Charles Leclerc, as reported by Motorsport.com. “It was difficult even with the previous generation of cars, but now with the hybrid and especially with the electric motor, which is much more powerful, there are so many small adjustments you can make to hide the real potential of the car in so many different ways. So it’s really, really difficult for us to understand exactly where we stand.”
The Ferrari driver underlined just how challenging it is to read the competitive picture during testing, particularly with the current hybrid power units and the increased influence of electrical deployment strategies. Teams can run different fuel loads, engine modes and aerodynamic configurations, making it nearly impossible to draw precise comparisons from lap times alone.
“What I’m happy about is that we are going through our programme,” Charles Leclerc continued. “So far we haven’t had any reliability problems, and that’s a good start. Everything matches what we expected. This is a good base from which to start working and improving.”
Reliability, often an early-season concern in Formula 1, appears to be one of Ferrari’s strengths at this stage. Completing the planned run programme without technical setbacks provides valuable data and allows engineers in Maranello to focus fully on performance optimisation ahead of the opening round.
Looking ahead to Melbourne and the likely pecking order for the Australian Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver was clear in his view. “I think everyone is trying to put the pressure on the others, it’s normal at this time of the season. I would expect [Mercedes and Red Bull] to be a bit ahead of us. Then McLaren is a bit more difficult to understand, but as I see it now, Red Bull and Mercedes are ahead, and then there is us. But for the moment it doesn’t look like there is a big gap.”
Charles Leclerc’s words reflect a balanced mixture of realism and optimism. While Ferrari may not yet be the outright benchmark according to his assessment, the gap to the leading teams does not appear significant. With further data analysis to come and additional preparation before the 2026 Formula 1 season officially begins in Melbourne, Ferrari fans have reason to feel encouraged by the early signs shown by the SF-26 during the Bahrain F1 test.
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