Lewis Hamilton tops Barcelona shakedown, but Ferrari data raises energy management concerns
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton concluded the first pre-season test under F1’s 2026 regulations with the fastest lap, yet Ferrari’s data from the Barcelona shakedown revealed that not everything was entirely positive for the Scuderia. The Italian team captured attention during the late sessions in Spain last week, as Hamilton set the benchmark with a 1:16.348. Ferrari also posted the second-highest number of laps among all teams, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completing a total of 440 laps.
Only Mercedes surpassed Ferrari in mileage at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, completing 502 laps, which reinforced their preliminary status as one of the early favourites for the 2026 F1 drivers’ championship. The Silver Arrows’ engine has long been regarded as the class leader, and the pre-season timing sheets appeared to support this notion.
Power units are expected to play a decisive role in performance this year, as the 2026 regulations place a strong emphasis on the new engines. The updated F1 power units now feature an almost 50/50 split between electrical and internal combustion power, run on sustainable fuels, and no longer include the MGU-H, marking a major technical shift from previous seasons.
Ferrari cautious over energy management after Barcelona shakedown analysis
While Ferrari were satisfied that the Barcelona shakedown confirmed the reliability of their 2026 F1 engine—a factor that had raised concerns before the first test under the new rules—a degree of uncertainty remains. Ferrari have therefore decided to use the same engine for the opening pre-season test in Bahrain, aiming to further assess its performance and energy management under real testing conditions.
Formula 1 is scheduled to move to the Sakhir circuit for the first official pre-season tests under the 2026 regulations on February 11–13, followed by a second session on February 18–20. Ferrari intend to use these sessions to trial new technical solutions to address lingering doubts about their energy management system and optimise overall engine efficiency.
According to the Italian website Formula1.it, sources close to Ferrari indicated that the Italian team remain concerned about the energy management readings recorded by Hamilton and Leclerc in Barcelona. Engineers are reportedly focused on identifying potential improvements to mitigate any shortfalls before the Bahrain tests.
Hamilton and Leclerc return to Ferrari simulator to fine-tune energy strategy
Since the Barcelona shakedown, Hamilton and Leclerc have spent extensive time in Ferrari’s simulator, assisting engineers in understanding why energy management—already a significant concern with the new hybrid power units—was performing below expectations. The shift to a near-equal 50/50 power split between the electric and internal combustion components had long been anticipated as a potential weakness in the 2026 regulations, but Ferrari’s initial shakedown data suggested that the issue was more pronounced than predicted. The team now hopes that further refinement in Bahrain will produce measurable progress.
Energy management was not the only area of concern to emerge in Montmelo. Observers from rival F1 teams reportedly noted that the handling of Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Ferrari appeared problematic in certain sections, particularly through Turn 10, as both Hamilton and Leclerc pushed the SF-26 to its limits. Ferrari engineers are now analysing all of these factors to ensure the car is optimised ahead of the opening race of the season.
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