Rumors suggest Ferrari ran high fuel during Charles Leclerc’s “qualifying” simulations. Did Ferrari hide its true performance during F1 testing in Bahrain?.

Did Ferrari also sandbag in Bahrain? An interesting detail about the SF-26 emerges

Rumours have started circulating after Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, pointing to a potentially intriguing behind-the-scenes detail regarding the Ferrari SF-26. Did Ferrari also hide its true performance during testing? Here are the latest insights emerging from the paddock.

We have seen how the Maranello team managed to complete its testing programme in a smooth and structured way, despite encountering a few minor issues. However, there may be more beneath the surface. A fascinating theory suggests that Ferrari may not have shown its full potential with the SF-26 over the three days in Sakhir.

The Prancing Horse has displayed a level of confidence that bodes well for the start of the 2026 season. Ferrari can certainly be satisfied with having ticked off every item on its testing checklist. Through the words of Charles Leclerc, it is clear that the team itself does not yet know exactly where it stands compared to its rivals, many of whom are believed to have heavily masked their true pace.

Across the paddock, Mercedes is widely regarded as the early favourite, with McLaren also strongly in contention. For now, Ferrari appears to hold a small advantage in race starts, thanks to a specifically developed turbo solution. But the biggest talking point now concerns the actual performance level shown by the SF-26 in Bahrain.

Did Ferrari run qualifying simulations with 30–40 kg of fuel and a low engine mode?

Several rumours suggest that Ferrari was not running at full potential during its headline qualifying simulations. According to comments reported by Matteo Bobbi, the SF-26 may have completed Leclerc’s Day 3 qualifying-style runs with approximately 30–40 kilograms of fuel onboard, combined with a conservative, low engine mapping that limited overall performance output.

Furthermore, Ferrari personnel in the garage maintained a highly focused and composed attitude throughout the test, effectively keeping a “poker face” that projected calmness and quiet confidence. There were no exaggerated celebrations, no visible concern — just a team seemingly aware of its own strength.

That said, Ferrari is not currently considered the outright favourite. However, everything shown during testing can be interpreted as highly encouraging. After a disastrous 2025 campaign, the SF-26 appears to represent a genuine fresh start for the Scuderia.

Perhaps the most important signal of all is the courage shown in technical innovation. Ferrari has not played it safe; instead, it has introduced bold solutions aimed at bringing the car back to the front of the grid. The world championship must be the ultimate objective, but failing to win it would not automatically mean failure. If Ferrari can fight for the title throughout the season and potentially lose it by only a handful of points, that alone would represent a significant step forward.

For now, the team led by Frédéric Vasseur has executed its winter programme extremely well, and the technical leadership of Loïc Serra already appears to be paying dividends. Will it be enough to beat Mercedes and the other top contenders? At this stage, it is impossible to say. But as the saying goes, a strong start is already half the journey.