Charles Leclerc is on track in Barcelona with the Ferrari SF-26, as the first details emerge from the work carried out during day two of Formula 1 testing. The Maranello team has officially begun its on-track programme in Spain, marking an important step in the early development phase of its new single-seater.
The Ferrari SF-26 is running at the Barcelona F1 test. After a Monday that saw Mercedes and Red Bull take centre stage, even engaging in a small time-based comparison on the stopwatch, the spotlight has now shifted to the Prancing Horse. Ferrari’s work programme on the SF-26 got underway from the early hours of the morning, following the data collected yesterday on the power unit together with its customer teams. At the wheel of the car this morning is Charles Leclerc.
With the first day of running now behind them, it is already time to return to the track in Barcelona. The collective shakedown will continue until Friday, 30 January, giving all participating teams the opportunity to gather valuable information on their new cars. News from yesterday also confirmed that Aston Martin will be present from Thursday onwards, while Williams has chosen to postpone its first on-track appearance until the Bahrain test.
As far as Ferrari is concerned, making its Spanish debut today, encouraging signals are already coming from its customer teams. Haas and Cadillac, both powered by Ferrari power units, completed their Monday programmes without any issues. In particular, the team led by Ayao Komatsu logged a significant amount of mileage with Esteban Ocon, continuing the approach already seen during the previous filming day at Fiorano.
The Ferrari SF-26 on track with medium tyres
As anticipated after last Friday’s presentation, Ferrari’s on-track activities in Barcelona officially begin today. Both Frédéric Vasseur and the engineers in Maranello have stressed how crucial every single minute of track time is for the preparation of the new car. It is therefore no surprise that Ferrari decided to delay its debut in Spain, a choice that did not compromise its participation in the three test days allowed under the regulations.
While waiting for the rain expected later in the day, Charles Leclerc has already completed several laps. The Monegasque driver is running on yellow-marked tyres, a predictable choice given Ferrari’s clear focus on the medium compounds, with as many as 12 sets requested for the test. Also clearly visible is the use of flow-vis paint on the rear wing, a tool employed to study aerodynamic airflow behaviour in real track conditions.
Further updates are expected to follow as the day progresses, with Ferrari continuing to analyse data and refine its understanding of the SF-26 during this crucial phase of pre-season preparation.
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