Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc at the wheel, finished in first position on the second day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain – and there is a key data point that offers real encouragement for the Scuderia.
The Maranello team is beginning to show its true potential, and it did so once again during day two of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. Charles Leclerc ended the session with the fastest time of 1’34”273, finishing five tenths ahead of Lando Norris. The two drivers were also the most active on track in terms of mileage, with Norris completing 149 laps, just ten more than Leclerc.
This is precisely the first statistic that should bring a smile to Ferrari. For these tests, the Italian team chose to continue using the same power unit that had already been run in Barcelona, where it completed more than 430 laps. That power unit is proving to be increasingly reliable, and the lap counts recorded not only by Ferrari but also by Haas and Cadillac – both powered by Ferrari engines – further underline that strength. But there is another figure that fuels optimism even more.
Top speed highlights the SF-26
Esteban Ocon said it clearly: “The Ferrari engine is fast and reliable.” While reliability has already been discussed, the top speed figures from the second day of testing further confirm the impressive performance of the new Ferrari power unit.
Charles Leclerc, without any slipstream, managed to reach 339 km/h, outperforming George Russell and Liam Lawson, who both topped out at 337 km/h. Behind them came Lando Norris and Alexander Albon, with maximum speeds of 335 km/h and 333 km/h respectively. This data also aligns with the 344 km/h recorded by Esteban Ocon in Barcelona, reinforcing the impression of a very competitive engine package.
Close behind were two more Ferrari-powered cars: both Haas and Cadillac reached 332 km/h, the same figure as Isack Hadjar. Just behind them was Pierre Gasly in the Alpine at 331 km/h, while Racing Bulls registered 327 km/h. Further down the list was Williams at 324 km/h, ahead of Audi and Aston Martin, who brought up the rear.
Audi’s highest top speed stood at 323 km/h, while Aston Martin managed only 318 km/h, highlighting the significant difficulties currently faced by the Honda power unit. It remains unclear whether the Silverstone-based team was running its engine at full power, but the fact remains that the AMR26 was forced into a power unit change after just 100 laps completed.
The second day in Bahrain has provided a clear indication that Ferrari’s homework over the winter is paying dividends, particularly in the balance between raw power and mechanical endurance. While rivals like Aston Martin struggle with reliability gremlins, the SF26 appears to be a robust and formidable package as we head toward the final day of testing.
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