Ferrari could bring more surprises to Australia – and a key advantage to exploit. F1 | Ferrari planning new updates for Australian GP as crucial advantage emerges.

With pre-season testing now complete, Ferrari and the rest of the Formula 1 grid are fully focused on the opening race of the 2026 season in Australia. The Maranello team could arrive in Melbourne with further surprises after an encouraging showing in Bahrain.

The Bahrain pre-season tests have officially concluded, and Ferrari certainly left a positive impression. While it is still too early to predict exactly what the SF-26 will be fighting for over the course of the championship, the final three days at Sakhir showcased innovative solutions introduced by the Maranello engineers. The question now is whether more upgrades could arrive in Australia to allow Ferrari to challenge at the very front of the field.

Bold solutions and attention to detail in Bahrain

Ferrari demonstrated courage and meticulous attention to detail in Bahrain. Two clear examples were the highly complex diffuser on the SF-26 and the new ‘reverse’ rear wing that generated significant discussion throughout the paddock. The men in red appear to have moved beyond the conservative approach seen in recent seasons, and this step forward now needs to be confirmed on track under race conditions.

New updates expected for Melbourne

The Maranello team has worked effectively to create a strong baseline with the SF-26. Bahrain testing was a success, although declaring Ferrari as the outright benchmark would be premature at this stage. According to Turkish Motorsport.com journalist Kemal Sengul, the Italian team is preparing further developments for the Australian Grand Prix.

“Ferrari leaves Bahrain satisfied. The correlation is good, they are happy with tyre life. Performance is also strong. There are also new components prepared for Melbourne. Both Leclerc and Hamilton have given positive feedback so far. In addition, Ferrari’s advantage is very valuable for Melbourne. But they are aware that Mercedes is keeping its cards close to its chest.”

It remains to be seen whether Ferrari will introduce additional innovative solutions in Australia that could provide a decisive edge over their direct rivals.

Mercedes still the reference point?

Although Ferrari pushed harder during the final afternoon in Bahrain, it is clear that the SF-26’s full potential was not entirely revealed. Other teams were even more cautious — especially Mercedes. Charles Leclerc had already addressed this situation last week: “Mercedes is showing some really impressive things at times, but I would say they are hiding much more. And, yes, I expect those two in particular to be a bit ahead of us.”

At the moment, the Brackley-based team is considered the favorite, and many observers believe Mercedes holds a solid advantage over Ferrari, McLaren and even Red Bull. For Ferrari, maximizing every opportunity will be crucial — particularly at the start. In recent days, strong launch performance has emerged as a key strength compared to its direct rivals, and it could prove decisive in Melbourne. Exploiting that advantage fully may be essential if the Scuderia wants to go all-in at the season opener.

As the championship heads to Albert Park, the combination of aggressive technical development and superior starting capability could be exactly what Ferrari needs to disrupt the established order. The 2026 regulatory reset has provided a blank canvas, and Maranello seems intent on painting a very bold picture for the year ahead.