For the Bahrain pre-season tests, Ferrari has introduced the first technical updates to the SF-26, showcasing a new front wing and a revised floor. As anticipated by the team, Ferrari arrives in Bahrain with a package of updates designed to refine the SF-26, which will adopt an even more extreme configuration ahead of the first race in Melbourne.
On the first day of testing, everything went according to plan: both drivers completed a total of 132 laps without any obvious issues. While the SF-26 did not stand out in terms of outright performance, this is entirely expected during testing, as engineers take the time to work on the car and build a proper setup for a vehicle they are still learning in depth.
The first Maranello car in the post-ground-effect era presents itself as a refined project: simple in shape but rich with interesting technical concepts. Significant updates are already planned for Melbourne, but a first glimpse was seen yesterday when the car hit the track with some technical novelties.
New front wing and updated floor for the Ferrari SF-26
The area that has changed the most is the front wing, which has drawn attention because, from this year, it adopts movable flaps previously seen only at the rear. The version seen during the Barcelona shakedown appeared rather simple; in Bahrain, the team introduced a more evolved configuration, in line with solutions adopted by rival teams.
The main profile now appears flatter and is no longer curved toward the center. The endplates have a new shape with an outward curvature designed to generate outwash and shield airflow directed toward the front tyres.
The third flap has also been redesigned: Ferrari reshaped it with cleaner lines and added two Gurney flaps along the trailing edge.
Additionally, Ferrari intervened in the old bargeboard area, revising the sidewalk geometry and repositioning the structural struts anchored to the chassis.
Changes can also be seen at the rear end of the floor, representing a slight evolution from the Barcelona specification. These micro-aerodynamic interventions help the team manage airflow more efficiently and improve the diffuser’s performance, which continues to generate the majority of the car’s aerodynamic downforce.
It is likely that during the second testing session in Bahrain, Ferrari will introduce further updates to transform the SF-26 into a genuine title contender for the 2026 season.
Overall, the introduction of these new components so early in the testing program highlights the team’s confidence in their simulation tools. As the SF-26 continues to evolve on track, the focus will shift from correlation to extracting maximum performance, setting the stage for a showdown at the season opener in Melbourne.
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