Ferrari title hype addressed as Guenther Steiner points to potential weakness. Guenther Steiner praises Ferrari’s SF-26 performance in Bahrain pre-season testing but stops short of declaring them 2026 F1 title contenders, citing Mercedes and McLaren as strong rivals..

Guenther Steiner cautious despite Ferrari SF-26’s strong Bahrain testing performance

Guenther Steiner has praised the Ferrari SF-26 after its promising pre-season testing in Bahrain, but he remains cautious about calling it a genuine title contender for the 2026 Formula 1 season. While the Scuderia showed significant pace and potential, Steiner stopped short of suggesting Ferrari could challenge for the championship immediately.

The Maranello team turned heads over the two-week testing period in the Sakhir desert, where Charles Leclerc consistently demonstrated the SF-26’s competitiveness. On the final day of testing, Charles Leclerc set the fastest overall lap with a 1:31.992, echoing the earlier pace shown by Lewis Hamilton during the Barcelona shakedown. These performances highlighted Ferrari’s ability to extract speed from their 2026-spec car, giving fans and competitors a glimpse of their potential on the grid.

Ferrari also drew attention for their rapid practice starts and the extensive range of new components tested during the Bahrain sessions. Lewis Hamilton experimented with Ferrari’s radical flipping rear wing, while the team introduced an innovative exhaust flap design that rivals are unlikely to replicate. The rear of the SF-26 became a focal point when Charles Leclerc emerged from the pit lane with flow-vis paint on the exhaust flap, a feature developed to enhance the efficiency of the rear diffuser. Ferrari engineers even designed the gearbox around this exhaust innovation, underlining the integration of aerodynamics and mechanical components in the SF-26.

Steiner remains realistic about Ferrari’s championship prospects

Despite Ferrari’s strong testing showing, Guenther Steiner is careful not to overstate their prospects. Paddock speculation ranges from Ferrari being the team to beat to merely the third-fastest outfit heading into the first race of the 2026 season in Australia. The former Haas team boss stressed that testing alone cannot determine who will be genuine Formula 1 World Championship contenders once the season begins.

Steiner highlighted a familiar Ferrari pattern: demonstrating encouraging pace in testing but sometimes failing to sustain it under race conditions when all teams reveal their true performance levels. He emphasized that, for now, Ferrari should be considered among the top four teams rather than outright favorites.

In his assessment to sport.de, Steiner described Ferrari’s situation as unpredictable, noting that the team consistently demonstrates competitiveness but without clarity on whether they are fully at the front. He highlighted that the SF-26 is clearly a strong car capable of running in the upper echelons of the field. Steiner also emphasized that Charles Leclerc is motivated to fight for the Formula 1 World Championship and will push the team to extract maximum performance if the car allows it.

Mercedes and McLaren could challenge Ferrari’s early momentum

While Ferrari impressed in Bahrain, many in the paddock still see Mercedes as the team to beat at the start of the 2026 season. Observers believe the Silver Arrows did not show their full potential during testing, and their works team retained the latest specification of the 2026 power unit. McLaren, in particular, is expected to gain an additional performance boost when they receive the upgraded Mercedes engine in Melbourne, which could alter the competitive order heading into the season opener.

According to BBC Sport, McLaren’s lack of access to the newest Mercedes power unit in Bahrain means they likely held back their full pace. This suggests that once McLaren integrates the upgraded engine for the Australian Grand Prix, they may pose a serious challenge to Ferrari’s pre-season momentum. For Guenther Steiner, this is an additional reason to temper expectations, as both Mercedes and McLaren could emerge as stronger title contenders once the season officially begins.

In summary, while the Ferrari SF-26 has demonstrated impressive aerodynamic efficiency and on-track performance during Bahrain testing, Guenther Steiner remains measured in his assessment. The combination of Charles Leclerc’s speed, Lewis Hamilton’s technical feedback, and Ferrari’s innovative developments suggests the team is on the right track, but the first race in Australia at the Albert Park circuit will provide a clearer picture of how the Scuderia stacks up against the competition in 2026.