Ferrari testing in Bahrain: a challenging but productive day at Sakhir
The penultimate day of Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir proved eventful for Ferrari. The Scuderia’s programme was partially disrupted by technical issues, yet the day still delivered valuable data as Lewis Hamilton took sole responsibility for driving the SF-26. For the seven-time world champion, this session was especially important, marking his final opportunity to validate key technical specifications before the team ships its equipment to Australia for the season-opening Grand Prix.
Hamilton has now concluded his 2026 winter testing duties, with Charles Leclerc set to take over for the final day. Despite a morning setback that limited track time, the British driver managed to complete a total of 78 laps. In the closing stages of the session, he also delivered competitive lap times during qualifying simulations, offering encouraging signs for Ferrari ahead of Melbourne.
Morning setback: garage stop and practice start
The day had begun on a positive note, with Hamilton heading out early to conduct aerodynamic evaluations using the Pirelli C3 compound. Ferrari’s engineers focused on gathering correlation data and fine-tuning the aerodynamic balance of the SF-26 under the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations. However, the programme was soon interrupted by a technical issue on the car.
Although the team confirmed that the power unit was not involved, the fault required a lengthy intervention from the mechanics. As a result, the SF-26 remained in the garage for a significant portion of the morning session. During the limited running before the issue emerged, observers were able to glimpse a new experimental rear wing flap specification, featuring an innovative opening system that attracted considerable attention in the paddock.
Once the problem was resolved, Hamilton returned to the track shortly before the lunch break and completed a practice start from the grid. Under the 2026 regulations, launch procedures have become even more complex due to the need to manage the instant torque delivery from the electric motor in combination with the internal combustion engine. Perfecting this process is now a highly technical exercise, requiring precise calibration between driver input and hybrid power deployment.
Afternoon focus: long runs, tyre comparisons and qualifying simulations
As temperatures dropped significantly – from 29°C to 21°C in ambient conditions, while track temperature fell from over 40°C to around 27°C – Ferrari shifted its attention to race simulations and consistency. Hamilton resumed running on the C3 compound before moving to a more demanding comparison programme with the harder C2 and C1 tyres, the toughest compounds in Pirelli’s range.
These extended long runs, punctuated by a couple of garage stops for adjustments, were crucial for evaluating tyre degradation and overall balance on a track that was steadily gaining grip. The data collected will help Ferrari refine its race set-up solutions, particularly in terms of rear stability and energy management under evolving track conditions.
In the final phase of the eight-hour session, Ferrari switched to a low-fuel, “qualifying-style” configuration. Hamilton fitted fresh sets of C3 tyres and stopped the clock at 1’33”408, securing fourth position on the timesheets. He finished six tenths of a second behind the fastest time of the day, set by Kimi Antonelli. While absolute lap times in testing must always be interpreted cautiously, the performance provided a useful benchmark for the SF-26’s one-lap potential.
Right at the chequered flag, a collective practice start session took place. Once again, Ferrari’s power unit demonstrated strong launch performance. The SF-26, much like the Haas car powered by the same Ferrari engine, reacted sharply off the line. Lewis Hamilton gained several positions immediately and entered Turn 1 in the lead of the group, highlighting the effectiveness of Ferrari’s start procedures under the new hybrid regulations.
Lewis Hamilton: “A great team effort”
After stepping out of the car, Lewis Hamilton provided an honest assessment of the day’s events, choosing to emphasize teamwork over outright performance figures.
“It wasn’t a perfect day for us because we didn’t manage to complete the entire planned programme,” Hamilton admitted.
He continued: “That said, we had a great team effort in the garage, where all the guys did a fantastic job fixing the car and allowing me to get back on track. I’m really grateful for the laps we were able to complete, and the data we gathered will be important as we continue preparing for the season.”
Hamilton’s comments underline a key aspect of modern Formula 1 testing: even when setbacks occur, the ability to respond quickly and extract meaningful data can define the overall success of a session.
Vasseur: “To innovate means knowing how to take risks”
Attention in the paddock was also drawn to some of the striking aerodynamic solutions introduced on the SF-26, including the rear wing seen in the morning session, which team principal Frédéric Vasseur revealed has been nicknamed “Macarena.”
The Ferrari team boss explained the technical philosophy guiding the 2026 project, particularly in light of the substantial reduction in aerodynamic downforce imposed by the new Formula 1 regulations.
“One of the characteristics of this year is that, by regulation, we have much less aerodynamic downforce than in the past. But the car only works with downforce, so we are fully focused on adding as much as possible, especially on the rear axle. It’s a challenge for us, but also for all our rivals,” Vasseur said.
He publicly praised the technical department led by Loïc Serra, stressing the courage required when approaching a regulatory revolution from a blank sheet of paper. Despite the reduced track time in the morning, Vasseur endorsed the aggressive mindset of his engineering group.
“I’m very happy with the work they’ve done. When you start from a blank page, there’s always the fear of heading in the wrong direction, but being innovative and not being afraid to dare is the only way to excel. Often people prefer to stay conventional out of fear, but that’s not our case.”
According to Vasseur, Ferrari’s step forward depends precisely on this cultural shift within the team.
“Taking risks is part of the DNA of our sport and it must also be part of the technical DNA. You have to know how to take risks on the technical side if you want to win. We’ll see in Melbourne where we stand compared to the others, but the important thing is that we had the audacity to propose different solutions,” he concluded, smiling as he avoided detailing the exact nature of the technical issue that slowed Hamilton earlier in the day.
Final preparations before Australia
Ferrari’s Bahrain testing programme will conclude tomorrow, marking the final opportunity to fine-tune the SF-26 before the freight is packed and shipped to Australia for the first Grand Prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Reliability remains a central focus inside the Ferrari garage, especially after today’s minor setback.
With Charles Leclerc set to complete the last day of running, the Scuderia’s objective is clear: maximize data collection, consolidate performance gains and ensure that both innovation and bold technical choices translate into competitiveness when the lights go out in Melbourne.
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