With the shakedown of the 2026 cars in Barcelona now completed, the first data points are beginning to emerge, providing an initial foundation for early analyses of the competitive landscape ahead of the new Formula 1 season.
These are, of course, only broad evaluations, as teams are still exploring cars that have effectively been designed from a blank sheet of paper, featuring major aerodynamic and power unit innovations. At this stage, outright performance is not the focus. In fact, the only truly relevant factor for the teams so far is the number of laps completed, which serves as a key indicator of reliability and project readiness ahead of the start of the season.
Looking at the figures, the team that stood out most in Spain was Mercedes. The W17 proved to be a solid platform, completing around 500 laps, a result that confirms the strength of the power unit, something that had been discussed for some time, as well as the overall quality of the Mercedes project.
Ferrari given a positive assessment
Encouraging signs, also in light of the rumours circulating over recent months, came from Ferrari. The Scuderia completed approximately 2,700 kilometres, a useful total for confirming reliability and collecting valuable data on the new power unit.
This mileage represents a satisfactory outcome for the Maranello team, which can currently rely on a project that appears solid from a reliability standpoint. However, the true robustness of Ferrari’s power unit, as well as those of its rivals, will only be fully verified during the Bahrain tests, where significantly higher mileage could reveal any potential technical issues.
As previously anticipated, Ferrari is expected to use the same power unit specification run in Barcelona at the Sakhir circuit. This will allow the team to cover the necessary mileage, estimated at around 6,000 kilometres, to properly assess the long-run behaviour and any possible weaknesses of the 067/6 power unit.
Bahrain will therefore be a crucial test, not only to obtain reliable feedback on reliability, but also to begin clarifying the hierarchy among the teams. Many outfits will start working more extensively on car set-ups and, without pushing too hard, begin to explore performance potential.
Factory work with focus on Bahrain
In preparation for this important appointment, Ferrari has carried out an in-depth analysis of the data gathered during the Barcelona shakedown.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who were at Maranello yesterday for a static filming day with the team’s partners, also completed simulator sessions to continue the development of the car and to finalise the set-up with which the SF-26 will take to the track in Sakhir from February 11.
This work is also crucial for validating data correlation between track and simulation, while giving the drivers an initial sense of what awaits them on the outskirts of Manama.
Between today and tomorrow, the SF-26 will depart for the Persian Gulf, where it will be prepared by Ferrari’s mechanics for the first official winter test session. The goal will be to confirm the positive signs seen in Spain, while hoping to avoid a repeat of the “harsh wake-up call” that Sakhir delivered last season.
The transition from the Barcelona shakedown to the upcoming Bahrain tests marks a pivotal moment in Ferrari’s 2026 campaign. By combining intensive simulator work from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with the solid reliability data gathered from 2,700 kilometers of running, the Scuderia is building a robust foundation. The successful shipment of the SF-26 to Sakhir represents the next step in a carefully planned preparation phase, aimed at ensuring the team is ready to challenge at the front from the very first race.
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