For a team arguably facing more pressure than any other, Ferrari have been almost impeccable in Bahrain testing. The SF-26 is certainly not being pushed to its limits, but the first indications are overwhelmingly positive.
In terms of reliability, Ferrari have completed over 1000 laps in pre-season (across Barcelona and Bahrain) without any power unit problems.
No other engine manufacturer, even the highly favoured Mercedes, can say the same in 2026 so far. Moreover, Fred Vasseur’s team have shown glimpses of true innovation with certain aerodynamic choices on the SF-26 – and there is plenty of more up their sleeve.
Ferrari firmly in the mix, more updates in the pipeline
Heading into pre-season testing, there was speculation about how the 2026 regulations could change the pecking order. The general expectation was that at least one of the front-runners would be caught off-guard.
Red Bull were often under the microscope in this respect, as doubts circulated about their first ever F1 engine.
Within a few weeks of testing, however, this narrative is under essentially under the water. All of the traditional top four teams – Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren – are looking in good shape.
In terms of headline times, the big names have been regularly at the top of the timing sheets. Race simulations tell a similar story, with a difference of a few tenths per lap celebrating these heavyweights.
Focusing on Ferrari, the SF-26 is widely perceived as a top three car – with more optimistic analysts categorising the Italian package as a contender for victory when the season begins in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both set fastest laps with their 2026 challenger, but this is not the main reason for optimism surrounding the Maranello outfit.
The race simulations completed by the SF-26 have been noteworthy, both in terms of overall performance and tyre management.
Furthermore, the Ferrari engine is understood to be in solid shape. From a reliability perspective, the Italian power unit has been rock solid – something with the Scuderia’s customer teams Haas and Cadillac have been grateful for.
Beyond this, the Ferrari engine’s harvesting of electrical energy is understood to be very efficient.
The power unit’s synergy with the sustainable fuels provided by Shell is working well, despite some of the concerns over winter.
Of course, looking at the best laps set by each team can be misleading. Still, it is unlikely a coincidence that last year’s top four teams have remained the four fastest teams in Bahrain testing.
For Fred Vasseur’s team, however, their early performance is particularly notable. Likely more than any other team, the SF-26 have a few tricks up their sleeves for Bahrain. (cont. next page)