Ferrari's SF-26 Demonstrates Potential in Barcelona Pre-Season Testing
Ferrari's upcoming SF-26 car has undergone rigorous testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during the second day of the 2026 Formula One pre-season shakedown. The Italian team successfully evaluated their new challenger in both wet and dry conditions, with drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton sharing driving duties throughout the comprehensive testing program.
Mixed Weather Conditions Challenge Testing Schedule
The Barcelona test presented challenging weather conditions that forced teams to adapt quickly. Despite these difficulties, Ferrari managed to conduct valuable running in both dry and wet environments, providing crucial data about the SF-26's performance across different track conditions. The five-day private test, scheduled between January 26 and January 30, is taking place behind closed doors with limited public access, allowing teams to focus on gathering essential information about the new technical regulations.
Leclerc's Morning Session Sets the Pace
Charles Leclerc was among the first drivers to take to the track on the opening day of testing for the 2025 season. The Monegasque driver immediately began dry running in the new Ferrari SF-26 until rain arrived during the session, forcing the team to switch to wet tyres. This unexpected weather change proved beneficial, as it allowed Ferrari to gather extremely useful information about how their car would perform under wet conditions - data that other teams were unlikely to collect on the same day.
Reports estimate that Leclerc completed between 64 and 67 laps during the morning session, including running on both slicks and wets. This comprehensive approach enabled Ferrari to assess their car's performance across multiple track conditions simultaneously, providing engineers with valuable comparative data.
Hamilton Takes Over in Afternoon Session
In the afternoon session, Lewis Hamilton took over from Leclerc and continued with the testing program. The British driver completed approximately 56 laps, using this opportunity to gain further experience with the updated equipment he will use when competing for Ferrari in the 2025 World Championship. Despite changing weather conditions, the Italian team remained focused on their testing schedule, with both drivers providing detailed feedback to engineers about potential development areas during this early phase of pre-season testing.
Testing Context and Incident Reports
The Barcelona test represents a crucial opportunity for all Formula One teams to collect necessary data on new technical rules and aerodynamic changes before the competitive season begins. All teams are permitted three out-of-order test days in the window before the start of this year's competitive season to prepare for their first competitive appearance in March.
The rain that affected many parts of Spain on Tuesday created challenging conditions for testing sessions, forcing teams to coordinate quickly to adjust to wet sessions and recover from any difficulties encountered. During the afternoon test session, Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar experienced an incident that wrecked his car, temporarily halting progress and demonstrating the challenges of operating a car at high speed in wet-weather conditions.
Ferrari's Comprehensive Testing Approach
Ferrari's work ethic in conducting a mix of running, both wet and dry, during the test demonstrates the company's commitment to understanding their 2026 package thoroughly. This comprehensive approach reflects Ferrari's ambition to be competitive at the very front of the field this season and their desire to maximize knowledge about their new car before the racing season begins in earnest.
The successful testing of the SF-26 in mixed conditions provides promising signs for Ferrari's 2026 campaign, with both Leclerc and Hamilton contributing valuable insights that will help engineers further develop the car during this critical pre-season period.
