F1 test: Ferrari fans fear engine issues as SF-26 sits idle in Bahrain
Ferrari remained stationary in the garage for a long time during the morning of Day 2 of the F1 pre-season tests in Bahrain, causing fans to fear potential engine problems with the SF-26.
The morning session of the fifth day of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit was marked by Ferrari spending extended time in the pits. Lewis Hamilton completed only five laps during the first two hours of track activity, immediately worrying fans who feared that the SF-26 might be experiencing issues with its Power Unit.
What happened to Ferrari’s engine during the Bahrain tests?
However, the situation appears to be far less serious than initially feared. The absence of Lewis Hamilton on track was not due to any problems with Ferrari’s Power Unit. Sky F1 analyst Matteo Bobbi explained the situation live from Sakhir: “They completely removed the suspension arms on the gearbox side. There are no engine problems, and the team is working on the axle area, gearbox, and differential. Ferrari confirmed that the Power Unit is fine, which is very important. Teams are gathering data on the lifespan of various components, and at this stage, some components may have reached the end of their life since they’ve already covered a lot of kilometers.”
So, there’s nothing serious at Ferrari. The Maranello engineers had already planned to replace key components, including the engine and gearbox, during the final three days of testing. This is likely what is currently taking place in the Ferrari garage, ensuring the SF-26 is fully ready for the next sessions on track.
In summary, while the long garage stay for the SF-26 sparked fears of a catastrophic engine failure, Ferrari’s technical team confirmed the work was related to scheduled drivetrain maintenance, ensuring the Power Unit remains a reliable asset heading into the final stages of pre-season testing.
