Ferrari entered the final practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend looking to refine a setup that still appeared imperfect after Friday’s running. While the upgrades introduced on the SF-26 have generally been viewed as a success, two weaknesses remained evident: excessive rotation in certain corners and persistent rear tyre overheating.
With qualifying approaching, the Scuderia’s main objective during FP3 was to address these issues and extract as much performance as possible from the upgraded package.
Problems on Lewis Hamilton’s SF-26
Under bright Barcelona sunshine, preparations began with an unexpected concern on Lewis Hamilton’s car.
The number 44 Ferrari spent a significant amount of time on stands before the session, and the work carried out by the mechanics did not appear to fully resolve the issue. After only ten minutes, the British driver climbed out of the car and the mechanics immediately resumed work inside the garage.
Work was also being carried out on Charles Leclerc’s car, although there appeared to be no major concerns on the Monegasque’s side. Even so, Charles Leclerc waited around 20 minutes before making his first appearance on track.
Fitted with a set of soft-compound Pirelli tyres, Charles Leclerc immediately began working through various engine mapping settings that had been selected following overnight simulator analysis. After a preparation lap to bring the tyres up to temperature, he started his first push attempt. The Ferrari driver put together a competitive lap before returning to the pits. Over the radio, he reported vibrations that were causing some discomfort during the run.
By the halfway point of the session, Lewis Hamilton finally left the pit lane. Like his teammate, he was running on soft tyres. However, after a cautious out lap, his first attempt was interrupted almost immediately.
Ferrari still searching for the ideal qualifying setup
Through Turn 3, the SF-26 appeared nervous and unstable, forcing Lewis Hamilton into a noticeable double correction to avoid losing control. The most likely explanation was that the tyres had not yet reached their optimal operating window.
His first representative lap left him four tenths slower than Charles Leclerc. A tenth was lost in the apex of Turn 7 alone, while another tenth disappeared on the exit of Turn 12.
Charles Leclerc later returned to the circuit on used soft tyres and prepared for another qualifying-style run. However, he was unable to improve and once again returned to the pits, continuing to report vibrations during the in-lap. Inside the Ferrari garage, engineers continued making setup adjustments. At that stage, it was clear that the team had not yet found the ideal balance for either car.
After a brief stop, both drivers headed back onto the circuit on soft tyres once more.
Radio communications revealed that Ferrari’s programme included another evaluation run before fitting a final set of fresh tyres for the ultimate qualifying simulation.
One particularly interesting detail emerged from the data. Out of Turn 14, the Ferrari appeared to lack hybrid deployment, forcing the drivers into additional lift-off phases earlier in the lap to recover energy. Unsurprisingly, this compromised overall lap time.
Tyre optimization remains crucial
The final qualifying simulations provided the clearest picture of Ferrari’s competitiveness.
The power deficit remained visible, although Lewis Hamilton had already suggested in recent days that other factors were also contributing to the team’s difficulties.
The seven-time world champion was the first Ferrari driver to complete his final run and finished roughly seven tenths behind the benchmark time. More than half of that deficit came in the second half of the lap, with Turn 7 proving particularly problematic.
The Briton later suggested that the tyre set used during the attempt had not performed as expected. Charles Leclerc extracted considerably more from his final run, finishing just over two tenths behind the fastest time. Even so, he still lost almost three tenths to George Russell in the second sector.
Overall, Ferrari appeared capable of competing with McLaren, while Mercedes looked to have another level of performance available. Lewis Hamilton attempted a second run after allowing the tyres to cool down, but no significant improvement followed.
The evidence from FP3 suggests that the characteristics of the Barcelona circuit do not perfectly suit the SF-26. As a result, achieving a front-row qualifying result will be extremely difficult.
However, Ferrari’s engineers still believe there is additional performance to unlock. The upgraded SF-26 appears to possess more potential than was ultimately shown in final practice, leaving the Scuderia hoping that further refinements can help close the gap when qualifying begins.
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