Ferrari is beginning to raise eyebrows after the opening Formula 1 test in Bahrain, with the SF-26 emerging as one of the most talked-about cars in the paddock. The early signs from Sakhir suggest that the Scuderia may have taken a significant step forward, both in terms of reliability and outright race pace.
The Ferrari seen during the first F1 test in Bahrain has left a strong impression. The SF-26 allowed Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to complete a remarkable 420 laps over the three days, just two fewer than McLaren but significantly more than both Red Bull and Mercedes. The latter, in particular, encountered several issues during the test. Ferrari, by contrast, did not suffer any comparable setbacks, not even the minor problem that briefly stopped Lewis Hamilton in the final ten minutes of the last day.
What has truly surprised observers, however, is the race pace displayed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton throughout the three-day session. Over the course of Thursday and Friday, both Ferrari drivers focused on full race simulations, completing the entire 56-lap distance and delivering genuinely encouraging signals. The most impressive detail is that all of this mileage was covered using a single power unit, the same engine Ferrari had already installed during the earlier Barcelona running.
The talk in the paddock
Between the Barcelona test and these opening days in Bahrain, the Maranello team completed a total of 840 laps. That figure is 72 more than Haas, which uses Ferrari power units, and 76 more than Mercedes. Reliability now appears to be firmly established as one of Ferrari’s strengths heading into the new season.
Beyond durability, it is the performance over long runs that has truly caught the attention of insiders. According to reports shared by Ted Kravitz, Charles Leclerc’s race simulation yesterday was 28 seconds faster than George Russell’s comparable run. Such a gap, even in testing conditions, has inevitably fuelled discussion within the paddock.
This striking figure may find a strong explanation in the latest updates Ferrari introduced for the Bahrain F1 test. According to paddock whispers, the new SF-26 has been described as an “airplane” by some observers. The comment refers to the aerodynamic efficiency generated by the new front wing, the revised diffuser and the updated floor brought by the team, elements that appear to have significantly transformed the car’s overall balance and performance.
While the true competitive order will only become clear once the lights go out in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, this Ferrari – developed largely away from the spotlight – is starting to make a real impression. After the first Bahrain F1 test, the SF-26 is no longer just a promising project: it is a car that is beginning to worry the entire paddock.
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