The first of two official pre-season testing sessions ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season has concluded at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Lewis Hamilton putting the Ferrari SF-26 through an intensive and structured programme. Although the Scuderia experienced a late on-track stop during the final minutes of the third day, the overall assessment remains clearly positive for the Maranello-based team.
Across the three days of running in Sakhir, Lewis Hamilton accumulated valuable mileage at the wheel of the new SF-26. The British driver completed race simulations and extended long runs designed to evaluate race pace, fuel consumption and the car’s behaviour under varying track and wind conditions. Despite a few more challenging moments – particularly during changes of direction in crosswind conditions – the Briton was able to complete the vast majority of the planned testing schedule.
Lewis Hamilton’s stop during the Bahrain F1 test: no technical issue for Ferrari
The most discussed episode of the session came in the closing stages of testing, when Lewis Hamilton brought the SF-26 to a halt on track shortly before the chequered flag. Television images showed the Ferrari stationary, immediately fuelling speculation about a possible engine problem.
However, the team quickly issued an important clarification: the stop was not caused by any mechanical failure. Instead, it was part of a pre-planned test programme. Ferrari had deliberately run the car out of fuel in order to evaluate fuel consumption and to verify correct fuel pick-up during the final phases of a long stint. In other words, it was a targeted data-gathering exercise rather than a technical setback, and the team completed its intended mileage without encountering any reliability concerns.
Hamilton’s words at the end of the day
At the conclusion of the third day of testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton himself delivered a broadly positive assessment. “We completed a lot of laps and went through the entire programme, which allowed us to gather plenty of useful data and get to know the car better.”
The seven-time world champion described the SF-26 as “generally good”, while also underlining the complexity of this new generation of Formula 1 cars. “The SF-26 has given generally good feelings, but this generation of cars is quite complex and finding the right operating window, especially with the tyres, is crucial.”
There was also room for further development. According to Lewis Hamilton, the team has “made some interesting discoveries and also identified areas where we can improve.”
Looking ahead, the focus is already on the next round of pre-season running. “We still have another test session ahead of us, which will be important to build on what we have learned so far and continue to make progress.”
With encouraging feedback from Lewis Hamilton, solid reliability and a structured development plan in place, the Ferrari SF-26 leaves the Bahrain F1 test having made a strong early impression — while keeping clear areas of focus for the crucial days of preparation still to come.
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