Ferrari appears to be in strong shape after Friday practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, with the SF-26 showing encouraging potential around the Malaysian circuit. However, the headline times still need to be treated with considerable caution because several leading teams completed their programmes without prioritising outright lap time.
That makes it too early for a definitive technical assessment of the competitive order. Ferrari has found a more favourable operating window than at recent events, but there are still setup parameters to correct before the SF-26 can deliver its maximum performance when qualifying begins.
Ferrari’s Bahrain GP practice times need to be treated with caution
The leading teams followed broadly similar programmes, completing two runs aimed at quickly assessing qualifying performance on two different tyre compounds before switching their attention exclusively to race pace. Despite Ferrari’s excellent conclusion to Friday, the current classification does not necessarily represent the real hierarchy.
As is often the case, the first day of free practice carries only limited significance, particularly when assessing Ferrari, because the true competitive picture has probably yet to emerge. The differences in run plans can be explored further through the ScuderiaFans F1 Practice & Long-Run Analysis.
The Maranello team completed its short qualifying-style runs on the Soft compound. Red Bull and Mercedes, by contrast, made greater use of Pirelli’s yellow-marked Medium tyres. That compound difference is important when interpreting the timing screens and means the absolute lap times should still be viewed with caution.
Mercedes is consequently much closer to Ferrari than the classification might suggest. George Russell’s theoretical best lap, assembled from his strongest individual sectors and achieved without using the fastest tyre compound, would have placed the Mercedes driver among the leading positions. The ideal classification based on each driver’s best absolute sector times during FP2 therefore paints a different picture from the conventional timesheet.
Ferrari still needs to refine the SF-26 setup at Sepang
Onboard analysis reveals some significant differences between the cars. Ferrari’s SF-26 is showing solid potential, but further setup optimisation remains necessary. The car is currently very strongly biased towards the front axle, and that characteristic is contributing to the rear becoming lighter during several phases of the lap.
The effect is particularly noticeable under traction, although it can occasionally also be seen as the car approaches the apex. Finding a more effective compromise will therefore be an important part of Ferrari’s work before the final practice session and qualifying.
The team’s direct rivals are dealing with their own balance challenges. Mercedes already appears to be operating within a good balance window, while Red Bull is currently displaying pronounced understeer.
At the same time, Sepang’s characteristics appear to suit the SF-26 better. Ferrari has been able to find a wider operating window in Malaysia than at the most recent Grands Prix, an encouraging development given the compromises the team has recently faced. The characteristics of the Malaysian circuit and why they could favour the car were already central to the analysis of why Sepang could suit Ferrari’s SF-26 better than Baku.
SF-26 appears less mechanically stiff in Malaysia
There is still an important caveat. Setup limitations can emerge once teams begin pushing towards the absolute limit, meaning Friday’s positive signs still require confirmation under more representative conditions.
One encouraging aspect is that the Italian car is not displaying the extreme mechanical stiffness seen recently. That observation will need definitive validation during the third and final free practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang.
The difference is significant because Ferrari’s recent difficulties have exposed how narrow the SF-26’s competitive operating window can become. The question of whether the Scuderia has slipped behind its main opposition was particularly evident in the analysis of what Baku revealed about Ferrari’s place in the competitive order.
Ferrari must extract maximum SF-26 performance to fight at the front
Ferrari has not lost the fundamental speed of its car. Nevertheless, its rivals have reduced the gap through upgrade packages introduced on track. That development has progressively narrowed the SF-26’s operating window and forced the Maranello team into increasingly uncompetitive compromises, ultimately slowing its pace.
Saturday will therefore be crucial. Ferrari still needs to establish the true performance limit of the SF-26, and although the car’s potential appears clear, fighting at the front will require the team to identify the most effective setup and avoid mistakes.
The immediate priority is to optimise the car for qualifying before attempting to capitalise on the result over the roughly 300 kilometres of Sunday’s race. Friday has provided Ferrari with encouraging evidence that Sepang can offer the SF-26 a better platform, but the decisive question remains how much performance Mercedes, Red Bull and the other leading contenders have yet to reveal.
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