Frédéric Vasseur has finally shared his thoughts on the work Ferrari has been carrying out during these days of pre-season testing in Barcelona. Is the work on the SF-26 progressing smoothly, or were there some minor setbacks along the way?
Ferrari took to the track on 29 January for its second day of testing in Barcelona, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc alternating at the wheel during the morning and afternoon sessions respectively. At the end of the penultimate day of the team’s stay in Spain, Frédéric Vasseur offered his first comments on what happened on track and on the work carried out by the Scuderia with the brand-new SF-26.
Over the course of the day, Ferrari completed a total of 174 laps around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Hamilton logged 85 laps, while Leclerc completed 89. The Maranello-based team therefore successfully completed its planned programme and will continue its on-track activities again on 30 January. This will be the final day available for teams that have not yet used all three of their permitted test days with the new cars.
Vasseur outlines Ferrari’s objectives in Barcelona
“So far it has been a productive shakedown for us. After a difficult first day due to the weather conditions, today we were able to run consistently and, above all, to accumulate mileage, which is the main objective,” said Fred Vasseur.
“Reliability and learning are the priorities at this stage, especially with such a significant regulatory change. We have collected a lot of data and followed the planned programme. There is still a long way to go before the start of the season, but that is exactly the purpose of these days: to understand the car, analyse every area in detail and continue to improve step by step with Bahrain in mind.”
These were the words of the manager from Draveil, who preferred not to go into too much detail about the competitive situation at this early stage.
Ferrari’s objective in Barcelona is exclusively linked to the reliability of the new car. Up to this point, the Scuderia has not encountered any significant issues, and everything has been running smoothly so far. There will now be one final day to confirm what has been shown this week, before the team heads back to Maranello to analyse the data and work on the first developments for the SF-26.
After that, attention will turn to pre-season testing in Bahrain, where the focus will also begin to shift towards performance. And that is where things are sure to become even more interesting.
This initial feedback from Fred Vasseur underscores Ferrari’s methodical approach to the 2026 technical transition, placing a premium on data integrity over headline lap times. By successfully navigating the Barcelona shakedown without significant mechanical setbacks, the team has established a reliable platform that is essential for long-term development. This focused start in Spain ensures that the Scuderia heads into the Bahrain tests with a clear understanding of their baseline, setting the stage for the first real performance benchmarks of the season.
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