Last Updated on February 21 2026, 8:39 am

Ferrari flexed its muscles on the final day of Formula 1 winter testing in Bahrain, ending the week on a high. In the closing session, the Scuderia set the benchmark, while Audi delivered another quietly convincing performance to conclude an encouraging programme.

Ferrari’s dominant performance in Bahrain inevitably fuelled the belief that the Scuderia could deliver a championship-winning car in 2026. If the pace and lightning-fast starts witnessed during testing could be replicated on race weekends, there would be genuine hope for Lewis Hamilton to secure his long-awaited eighth world title.

 

Leclerc set the pace

Charles Leclerc dominated Friday’s running almost at will. The Monegasque driver recorded a lap time of 1:31.992, the fastest of the entire test in Bahrain. Although testing times always require careful interpretation, the margin to the rest of the field was striking.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished 0.879 seconds behind, while Max Verstappen followed 1.117 seconds behind. Even allowing for different fuel loads and run plans, Ferrari’s advantage was clear.

It is true that Ferrari was the only top team to use the soft C4 compound for a qualifying-style attempt. Nevertheless, the lap demonstrated how well-balanced the new car was. After three productive and clean days, there was every reason for optimism back in Maranello.

 

MORE NEWS – Insider: Neweys’ Aston Martin ‘sand bagging’ like 2014 Red Bull

 

Encouraging signs over long runs

Beyond the headline lap time, Ferrari’s overall programme ran smoothly. There were no major reliability issues, and the long-run simulations were consistent. While rivals lost valuable track time during the week, Ferrari maximised mileage and gathered extensive data.

This solid preparation was especially important in a season featuring completely new cars and revised hybrid power units, with nearly half of the total output now generated electrically. Teams were still unlocking performance, and the overall lap times remained, unsurprisingly, well off the best Bahrain testing benchmark of 1:29.545 set in 2025. The new regulations have reduced downforce significantly, coupled with the new engines that deploy power in a far more conservative manner over a lap.

 

READ MORE – 8th Title Chances? Lewis Hamilton Stunned by 2026 F1 Cars

 

Ferrari dominates the practice starts yet again

As in previous days, Friday’s session concluded with a series of practice starts. The red flag was shown, neutralising the track and sending all cars back to the pit lane. After a brief pause, the cars returned for a formation lap, followed by a simulated aborted start and a second build-up to the grid.

George Russell lined up at the front for the exercise, with Leclerc directly behind him. All eyes were on the launch phase.

The teams deliberately left gaps between the cars to minimise risk. Nevertheless, it quickly became evident that the Ferrari launched far more cleanly than the rest. Leclerc reacted quickly and closed in on Russell’s Mercedes immediately, almost pulling alongside on the way to Turn 1. Similar strong starts had already been seen earlier in the week, the most striking of which was Lewis Hamilton, who passed several cars before the first corner.

 

2026 starts: Why were so many drivers struggling?

The start simulations also revealed how challenging the new 2026 regulations had become. The new hybrid systems proved challenging, with some drivers not reaching full turbo speed in time, while others struggled with excessive wheelspin. The balance between electrical deployment and combustion power appeared delicate under the revised regulations.

In the evening session on Thursday, Lewis Hamilton demonstrated Ferrari’s strength off the line. Starting from the third row, he surged forward and took the lead into the first corner, overtaking Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes.

Rumours in the paddock suggested that Ferrari’s strong launches might have been linked to a smaller turbocharger design, enabling the unit to reach peak boost more quickly and reduce turbo lag. This pattern appeared to extend beyond the works cars. Esteban Ocon also enjoyed an impressive start in his Ferrari-powered Haas, lending weight to the theory.

Leclerc later explained that the team had deliberately focused on optimising starts under the new regulations, acknowledging that the opening metres often offered the best chance to gain positions. This tactic might prove decisive as drivers have reported that the new F1 cars are not easy to overtake with when compared to last year’s.

 

MORE NEWS – Hamilton eyes up a different sport: Could F1 take a backseat?

 

Audi impressed again

While Ferrari dominated the headlines, Audi quietly completed another solid day. Gabriel Bortoleto secured seventh place and, more importantly, completed more mileage without any major technical issues.

Reliability and structured execution were key targets for the new factory operation throughout the test. The team managed to avoid significant interruptions and steadily built up data across long runs and performance simulations. This consistency served to reinforce the positive impression that Audi had already made earlier in the week.

 

Aston Martin endured a frustrating conclusion to testing

By contrast, the Aston Martin F1 Team experienced a difficult conclusion to testing. Lance Stroll completed just six laps before technical issues forced him to return to the garage. He was unable to return to the track for the rest of the afternoon.

Losing valuable track time on the final day was far from ideal, especially given the limited number of pre-season sessions available. With the season opener approaching rapidly, Aston Martin left Bahrain with more questions than answers.

However, as testing came to an end, the clearest message had been sent by Ferrari. On long runs, over one lap and even in the crucial start phase, the Scuderia had looked sharp. Whether that advantage would hold once the racing began remained to be seen, but the final impression of the winter season firmly belonged to the team from Maranello.

 

READ MORE – “It could be chaotic”: Big change in F1, he agrees with Verstappen

 

NEXT ARTICLE – Lewis Hamilton & Charles Leclerc Have a Massive Advantage in 2026?

Pre-season testing rarely provides definitive answers, but it can sometimes reveal structural changes. In Bahrain this week, during preparations for the 2026 campaign, Ferrari did not just look competitive; it looked fundamentally different, even to the previous week of testing. But it isn’t just the peculiar rear wing 180 rotating drag reduction, or the odd gearbox wings with their swept back drive shafts that have the paddock talking this evening.

Most striking was the visual evidence from practice grid starts today that seem to suggest Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc may hold one of the most decisive advantages of the new regulatory era.

During multiple launch simulations at the Bahrain International Circuit, Ferrari-powered cars surged forward with striking immediacy. Hamilton, who was lined up several rows back in one evening simulation, sped through the pack before the first braking zone.

Even accounting for empty grid slots and varied engine modes, the difference in initial acceleration was clear. Engineers and team personnel watching trackside were struck by how cleanly and predictably the red cars delivered power compared to rivals that appeared momentarily hesitant.

This was not an isolated incident. The Ferrari-powered Haas of Esteban Ocon also demonstrated strong and consistent launches. What stood out was consistency. While some competitors struggled to find the right engine rev window or appeared to balance turbo preparation with hybrid deployment awkwardly, Ferrari’s system appeared composed and responsive…CONTINUE READING THIS STORY