Ferrari SF-26: Maranello engineers keep Barcelona engine for Bahrain to gauge reliability. Ferrari will use the same SF-26 power unit in Bahrain as in Barcelona.

Ferrari confident: Barcelona engine to be used in Bahrain

Ferrari arrives in Bahrain with confidence, bringing the same power unit that was used on the SF-26 during the Barcelona shakedown. After positive signs from the tests in Catalunya, the Scuderia wants to evaluate the actual potential of the 067/6 engine in a much hotter climate, where reliability will be severely tested.

The team from Maranello will use the same unit in Sakhir as it did in Spain, just as other manufacturers are likely to do. Ferrari aims to determine the durability of the 067/6, and Enrico Gualtieri’s engine department has no intention of using a second unit for the first of the two official sessions scheduled in Sakhir from Wednesday.

In fact, if plans go as expected, the team could complete its winter preparation with a single engine. While testing regulations impose no limitations on the number of power units used, the rules during the championship allow only three units per driver without incurring penalties in a calendar that again features 24 Grands Prix and six Sprint races.

With the new power unit design, where 50% of power comes from the six-cylinder internal combustion engine and the other 50% from the electric motor generator, the FIA has also decided to extend the life of individual units. Until 2025, each driver could use four power units, covering six races per engine. In 2026, with just three units allowed, each power unit must last eight Grands Prix.

This makes reliability a key factor for any team aiming for strong results in the era of agile cars.

In Sakhir, the F1 Commission is expected to meet to discuss the PUAC (Power Unit Advisory Committee) proposal to modify compression ratio checks, moving from ambient temperature testing to hot conditions. While the PUAC only represented engine manufacturers, the F1 Commission also includes the teams, which could shift the balance of power. There is no guarantee that the proposal supported by the majority of manufacturers—Honda, Ferrari, Audi, and now Red Bull Powertrains—to block Mercedes’ additional micro-combustion chamber will succeed.

The role of the FIA will be crucial during these discussions. Vincent Pereme, the technical expert, had previously approved Mercedes’ solution. Resolving this engine case would allow the 2026 season to start without complaints after the first race in Australia.

For now, the primary goal of Ferrari’s sporting management is to uncover the true potential of the 067/6 engine during the three days of testing in Bahrain. And at the moment, that is what matters most.

Ferrari’s decision to reuse its Barcelona power unit in the harsh conditions of Bahrain is therefore a bold statement regarding the SF-26’s baseline reliability. By pushing the 067/6 unit to its limits before the season officially begins, Enrico Gualtieri’s team is gathering the vital data needed to navigate a 24-race season with only three permitted engines. As the political battle over engine legality continues in the F1 Commission, Ferrari’s primary focus remains on the track, ensuring that their technical package is both robust and competitive enough to lead the charge into Formula 1’s newest era.