Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur has made it clear that the Scuderia is heading into an extremely demanding phase of work as the team begins an in-depth analysis of the data gathered during its recent Barcelona shakedown.
The Maranello-based outfit completed three days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier this week, taking to the track on Monday, Tuesday and Friday as part of its initial on-track programme for the new season. Across those sessions, Ferrari accumulated a total of 435 laps, a figure that placed the Italian team second only to Mercedes in terms of overall mileage.
While lap times are considered largely meaningless during behind-closed-doors shakedown running, Ferrari still took encouragement from the fact that Lewis Hamilton recorded the fastest lap of the week. For the Scuderia, this result was viewed primarily as a confidence boost and a confirmation that the baseline performance of the car is solid, rather than an indication of outright competitiveness.
Looking ahead to the next phase of preparation, Frédéric Vasseur explained that Ferrari will now return to Maranello, where the focus will shift entirely to data correlation and performance analysis. According to the Ferrari team principal, the coming days will be particularly intense, as engineers and drivers work through the vast amount of information collected on track, identifying weaknesses, potential upgrades and areas requiring immediate attention.
Ferrari’s car is scheduled to return to the circuit in just over a week’s time, when Formula 1’s first official pre-season test takes place in Bahrain. Unlike the Barcelona shakedown, the Sakhir test is expected to offer a more realistic indication of the competitive order, as teams gradually increase engine modes, explore set-up windows and begin to push their cars closer to their true performance limits.
As Ferrari prepares for that crucial test, the French manager underlined that there are numerous technical and operational topics still open within the team. With two separate three-day test sessions planned in Bahrain, the Maranello team aims to work through an extensive development programme, covering aerodynamic balance, mechanical set-up, tyre understanding and reliability checks.
Fred Vasseur also suggested that the Bahrain running will be far more representative than what was seen in Barcelona, given its proximity to the opening race of the season. Once testing concludes, the entire paddock will quickly shift focus to the first Grand Prix in Melbourne, leaving very little time for further refinement.
For Ferrari, the combination of a demanding analysis phase in Maranello, followed by an intensive pre-season test in Bahrain, represents a critical window in which the foundations of its campaign will be set. With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc both heavily involved in the feedback and development process, the Scuderia is determined to ensure that every lesson learned from Barcelona is fully translated into on-track performance before the lights go out for race one.
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