As Formula 1 approaches the opening weekend of the 2026 season, the competitive order on the grid remains far from clear. Pre-season testing offered only limited clues, with several top teams believed to have held back their true performance in order to avoid revealing too much to their rivals.
Ferrari are firmly part of that discussion. The Maranello outfit was among the standout performers in Bahrain, where the SF-26 appeared both quick and reliable. Crucially, the car did not suffer significant power unit issues — a notable contrast to the difficulties experienced by both Mercedes and Red Bull, who were forced to miss track time due to engine-related problems.
Have Ferrari already shown everything?
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert addressed the topic during the latest episode of the Stay On Track podcast, offering their assessment of Ferrari’s early form. The two former Formula 1 drivers highlighted both positives and potential concerns regarding the true performance ceiling of the SF-26.
“Ferrari are very interesting. They seem quite satisfied with their situation. Lewis made positive comments about how he feels inside the car. There were no long faces, so it looks like he’s happy with the driving experience. They’re among the top four, but picking the best team from that group is difficult. The feeling is that Mercedes are hiding their cards as well, even though everyone tried to shift the focus onto their rivals,” the two Britons explained.
They then raised a key question about Ferrari’s testing approach. “Coming back to Ferrari, maybe they have already shown all their potential. In the past, we’ve seen them look strong during testing. One of their problems has sometimes been getting too far ahead of themselves too early. Still, it was a solid performance. Nothing broke, they completed a lot of mileage, and the drivers looked happy driving the cars,” they added.
Hill and Herbert also pointed to what could become a delicate issue over the course of the 2026 season. “We also need to understand what the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will look like if the car turns out to be fast. Lewis grabs an opportunity the moment he sees one, but Charles has always been excellent at extracting the maximum from a car. The dynamic between the two will be fascinating to watch.”
With the Australian Grand Prix just around the corner, Ferrari enter the new era as genuine contenders. The question now is whether the SF-26 still has performance in reserve — or whether their rivals have already seen the Scuderia’s full hand.
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