The Ferrari team principal continues to exercise caution after the first two days of Shakedown, but he does not hide his satisfaction at having completed so many laps in both wet and dry conditions.
The objectives of the Barcelona tests have been emphasized by all drivers and team principals interviewed since the start of the week: logging kilometers, gathering data, verifying simulator correlation, and most importantly, ensuring that no unexpected issues arise. Discussions about performance will only begin during the tests in Bahrain in two weeks. Following the agenda to the letter, Ferrari’s session yesterday was positive, with 89 laps for Charles Leclerc and 85 for Lewis Hamilton.
“For us, it was the first day with slick tires,” commented Frédéric Vasseur, “and it was an excellent session, with almost 180 laps completed. At this stage, accumulating kilometers is crucial to begin understanding the car—the more kilometers you cover, the more you learn. But there is still a lot to do; the road ahead is long, and there is plenty of work before Melbourne. As a first step, however, it was a very good one.”
“You always feel like you could do more,” the Scuderia team principal continued, “but the limit was having to stop for refueling… it would have been difficult to cover even more distance. Gathering data and giving the engineers the chance to start their analysis work is very important, as it helps identify the next steps. There are many aspects of the car to analyze—from aerodynamics to mechanics, from the engine to energy management, which is an important theme for everyone.”
The faster the first checklist on the car’s functioning is completed, the sooner work on the setup can begin. Ferrari’s final day at the Barcelona circuit could see Leclerc and Hamilton attempting a first flying lap—not a priority in these tests, but as seen yesterday with Mercedes, it can be a chance to familiarize themselves with a scenario that will be crucial during race weekends.
“Logging kilometers is important,” Frédéric Vasseur concluded, “but in the end, we know that performance will become crucial. We still have one day here in Barcelona and two full test sessions in Bahrain, and I believe everyone on the grid has the same mindset: to discover everything possible about the car as quickly as possible.”
Fred Vasseur’s measured optimism highlights Ferrari’s disciplined approach to the 2026 technical transition, focusing on building a reliable foundation before chasing ultimate lap times. By prioritizing high mileage and energy management data in Barcelona, the Scuderia is ensuring that the SF-26 is a well-understood platform before the real battle for performance begins in Bahrain. This “excellent first step” provides the team with the confidence and the raw data necessary to navigate the complex road ahead to the season opener in Melbourne.
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