Ferrari has completed its first day of testing in Barcelona without encountering any issues, providing the first insights from the team on the work carried out on track with the new SF-26.
The 2026 season is already in full swing even before it officially begins, as the new regulation changes have forced teams to hit the track much earlier than in previous years. Ferrari finished the first of three test days in Barcelona, and a key team member shared initial feedback on the new SF-26 and the work performed.
During the first scheduled day in Barcelona, the two Scuderia drivers took turns behind the wheel of the new car. Charles Leclerc drove in the morning session, while Lewis Hamilton took over in the afternoon. The seven-time world champion had a brief excursion into the gravel towards the end of his session, but it had no consequences. Otherwise, Ferrari experienced no issues and will continue its program on January 28 and 29.
First insights on the SF-26 from Ferrari
“During the first day we managed to complete over 120 laps, which is almost double the distance of a race. We didn’t experience any major reliability problems. That is our current focus. Right now, we are concentrating on ourselves. New car, new power unit, new everything. So the most important point is reliability. We managed to complete our program despite the weather conditions. Looking back at yesterday, our customers also completed a solid mileage, which is a good sign. Regarding performance, I think it’s still too early to tell. So, I repeat, we are trying to understand the car and refine it. At this stage, it’s more about completing laps. Overall, I’m optimistic.”
These were the words of Matteo Togninalli, Head of Track Engineering at Scuderia Ferrari. Nothing particularly surprising, as it was already clear that the first tests were primarily focused on checking the reliability of the new cars. The important takeaway is that no issues or anomalies have been detected so far, which is normal at the start of a new cycle. And looking ahead to the next days…
“Well, now we continue to understand the car. The first step is to learn. The car is completely new: tires, aerodynamic behavior, and power unit performance. Then, step by step, we try to optimize it. We are looking forward to racing in Bahrain and then again in Bahrain. We expect the next days to be dry, which will allow us to learn how to use the dry tires, as we haven’t run much on them yet. It will also be positive to run alongside other teams, as it’s always helpful to compare. But, I repeat, we are focusing on ourselves. We have a long list of things to approve: measurements, characterization, testing, and setup. So it’s a very, very long list.”
As Ferrari works through this extensive checklist, the priority remains internal validation rather than chasing headlines. By establishing a solid foundation in Barcelona, the team hopes to arrive at the official Bahrain tests with a car that is not only reliable but also ready to be pushed to its true performance limits. The journey of the SF-26 has only just begun, but the initial signs suggest a team that is prepared, composed, and methodically ticking off every box on the path back to the top of the podium. The coming sessions will be crucial for the engineers to translate this early optimism into a championship-caliber package.
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