Tomorrow, the Formula 1 cars are set to return to the track in Bahrain, where the Ferrari team has conducted an initial program that was largely methodical and focused on detailed work during the first session. The session targeted several specific areas of the new SF-26, starting with the suspension kinematics, which are always a crucial aspect of the car’s overall behavior. The main objective during this initial phase of winter testing was clear and well-defined: to establish a dynamic balance that is fully consistent with the new regulatory requirements introduced for the 2026 season. By achieving this, the team aimed to stabilize the aerodynamic platform of the brand-new car. This step is particularly important because, with the parameters dictated by the new regulations, the operational window of the car is relatively narrow, meaning that the margin for error is limited. In addition, the correlation between mechanical setup and aerodynamic downforce has become a key factor in understanding how the car will perform in various track conditions and over long runs.
Ferrari SF-26: intensive work on the hybrid system
At the same time, the Ferrari power unit department carried out a thorough and in-depth analysis of the hybrid system, which continues to be a crucial element of the car’s performance and efficiency. Bahrain, and specifically the Sakhir circuit, provides an ideal environment for winter testing. The layout of the track, combined with the characteristic temperatures and other environmental conditions, offers a valuable and controlled setting for evaluating and refining the management of the car’s electric energy component. The four high-speed sectors on the Bahrain International Circuit impose very precise demands on the way the energy from the MGU-K is distributed throughout the lap. This is not simply a matter of delivering power to the rear wheels; it involves the careful and highly controlled modulation of energy to ensure that overall balance is maintained and that the car’s behavior remains predictable under all circumstances.
Within this technical context, Ferrari engineers and technicians worked extensively to integrate the contribution of the internal combustion engine with the energy recovered from braking, in order to identify the most coherent and efficient mapping for the new combination of chassis and aerodynamic package. Another area that required particular attention was deceleration. During the initial sessions, precision when entering corners was not always perfect, but it is important to contextualize this: the braking paradigms have changed dramatically compared to what the drivers experienced in 2025. The reference points for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have shifted, the logic behind energy recovery has evolved, and the pedal feel and feedback have also changed. All of these factors make braking management a more complex task than in previous seasons and require careful adaptation by the drivers to extract the best performance from the SF-26.
Ferrari SF-26: steady and consistent progress session by session
The large amount of data collected over the initial sessions has significantly accelerated Ferrari’s learning curve, allowing the engineers and drivers to better understand the car’s behavior and how small adjustments can influence performance. The most notable and encouraging aspect of the testing so far is that the SF-26 single-seater has shown measurable improvements from session to session, signaling that the technical direction taken by the Ferrari team is at least consistent and coherent with the team’s long-term development objectives.
In addition to work on the mechanical setup and hybrid system, the Ferrari engineers and technicians in Maranello have also concentrated on aerodynamic validation. While the car has appeared in a relatively basic configuration during the first days of testing, it has already displayed some interesting details and potential for further development. The diffuser, in particular, has attracted attention due to several detailed solutions that suggest targeted work aimed at improving the extraction of airflow from underneath the car, a fundamental aspect for maximizing downforce and stability in corners.
The Ferrari approach during these early sessions has been progressive and methodical. Initially, the rear section of the car was equipped with large and highly visible aero rakes to collect accurate and detailed data. Following this, the Maranello team applied flow-vis paint extensively along the entire right-hand side of the car, from the floor inlet up to the diffuser, to map the behavior of the fluid airflow around the car’s floor. The floor represents a central and highly significant component of the SF-26 architecture, as it does for every modern Formula 1 car, and understanding the interaction between airflow and the floor is essential for optimizing overall aerodynamic performance.
On track, the drivers have completed multiple long runs, during which the balance between aerodynamic and mechanical grip progressively became more solid and predictable. On Wednesday, the SF-26 was still showing instability at the rear, particularly under heavy braking, but by Thursday, with Charles Leclerc at the wheel, the car’s behavior appeared much more ordered and manageable. By Friday, when Lewis Hamilton completed his runs, the base setup of the car had been further refined and optimized, demonstrating that the team’s methodical approach was yielding tangible results.
Following these long runs, the Ferrari engineers concentrated on shorter stints aimed specifically at analyzing braking performance and behavior under deceleration. During these sessions, Lewis Hamilton appeared to be slightly less confident compared to Charles Leclerc in managing the braking phases. This observation must be contextualized, however, as the British driver’s long run took place in noticeably hotter conditions on day three of testing. Higher track temperatures affect not only the stability of the rear of the car but also the way the brake pedal responds and can be modulated, making his task inherently more challenging under those specific conditions.
Overall assessment: a Ferrari in development but responding predictably
Taken as a whole, the current picture indicates that Ferrari is still very much a work in progress, but the SF-26 is demonstrating the ability to respond in a predictable and linear manner to setup changes and technical interventions. The progression observed in Sakhir during these first three days of testing represents, at the moment, the most encouraging takeaway for the team, as it demonstrates that both the chassis and the aerodynamic package are developing in the right direction.
Reliability has also been a strong positive. The V6 turbo-hybrid engine used in the SF-26 is the same unit that Ferrari employed during testing in Spain, and it has performed without any notable issues. The steel cylinder head of the power unit has proven efficient and durable, showing little need for airflow despite the relatively modest size of the SF-26’s hot-air outlets, which were not oversized. This demonstrates that the engine can operate effectively under typical testing conditions while still maintaining a high level of performance.
The insights and data collected over these initial sessions are now being subjected to detailed and thorough analysis by the Ferrari engineers in Maranello. From Wednesday to Friday, the team expects to further refine the car’s setup and potentially introduce more significant aerodynamic updates, particularly in areas such as the engine air intakes and the beginning of the sidepods, which have so far appeared somewhat basic and conservative. This conservative approach reflects the philosophy of Loïc Serra, who aims to create a car model that is highly developable and capable of accommodating substantial upgrades over the course of the season.
The Ferrari SF-26 has therefore shown steady and measurable progress during the first days of testing in Bahrain. While there is still work to be done, both on the mechanical and aerodynamic fronts, as well as in fine-tuning the hybrid system, the car is beginning to show signs of a more balanced performance. The improvements seen with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel indicate that the car responds well to setup changes and that the technical direction chosen by the team is coherent with long-term development goals. The combination of chassis, aerodynamic package, and power unit appears to be gradually coming together, creating cautious optimism for the season ahead.
The SF-26’s development path will continue to be closely monitored as the team works to extract the maximum performance from every component, ensuring that the car can compete effectively throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. The methodical and progressive approach adopted by Ferrari in Bahrain has laid a solid foundation for further advancements, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton providing essential feedback that will shape the car’s evolution in the coming months. This structured testing approach, coupled with careful analysis of hybrid management, braking behavior, and aerodynamic performance, underscores Ferrari’s commitment to building a competitive and highly reliable race car capable of challenging for top positions across the 2026 Formula 1 championship calendar.
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