2026 Scuderia Ferrari HP F1 Team

[Seanspeed]

Has anyone got any of the data from the long runs today?

Posted previously: https://x.com/f1debrief/status/2024790259247034687/

This to me is the most encouraging thing. Given the time of day, I would say that this is possibly the best race sim we’ve seen (when corrected for high temps) and I think it bodes well for the drivability of the car and how it looks after tyres. Coupled with what seems to be a start advantage, it ought to mean good races.

The one lap pace was very good but I’m sceptical about how much Mercedes is keeping in reserve. Just gut but they certainly seem confident and I think they’ll crank it up a notch in Melbourne. Much was made in commentary (led by the Mercedes sim driver Ant Davidson…) that Bahrain suits Ferrari more than other tracks - I’m not entirely sure how much I believe that (a drivable car with smooth delivery and good tyre life is a good thing on pretty much all tracks) but it’ll be something to look out for.

I think it’s been a very good pre season and although there’s still a lot we don’t know (eg engine modes/fuel loads, Melbourne upgrades etc) I am cautiously optimistic.

I dont know how anybody can determine what cars are good at what tracks given the sample of one, and that just being a test, not an actual competitive race. lol

Commentary guys always just gotta yap about something, I guess. Hard to find things to talk about over an 8 hour test.

[Jambier]

My hopes are starting to rise.
Please please please, not another 2022

[upsidedowntoast]

I genuinely think this will be Ferrari's year. Disclaimer: I am not a Ferrari fan. In my opinion Ferrari have objectively shown themselves to be the best so far. Single glory run lap times are not too indicative, but what I see is fastest lap in addition to strongest start and best reliability. The only reason people aren't ranking Ferrari first is because they are letting the past influence them too much and they continue to assume that Merc is sandbagging. Merc does well, sandbags are off, Merc isn't top, they're sandbagging again -- just a rallying cry for confirmation bias. (My take: everyone is sandbagging, but Merc isn't faking the reliability issues that Mclaren doesn't have).

[Macklaren]

I'm a McLaren fan and bleed papaya but its genuinely fascinating to see Ferrari innovating again and see Ferrari fans get excited again. I truly hope it is not another false dawn and that Ferrari and McLaren can fight for the title like the old days. If neither McLaren driven wins the WDC, I really hope it is Lewis's 8th (9th?). Good luck Tifosi!

[f1316]

Has anyone got any of the data from the long runs today?

Posted previously: https://x.com/f1debrief/status/2024790259247034687/

This to me is the most encouraging thing. Given the time of day, I would say that this is possibly the best race sim we’ve seen (when corrected for high temps) and I think it bodes well for the drivability of the car and how it looks after tyres. Coupled with what seems to be a start advantage, it ought to mean good races.

The one lap pace was very good but I’m sceptical about how much Mercedes is keeping in reserve. Just gut but they certainly seem confident and I think they’ll crank it up a notch in Melbourne. Much was made in commentary (led by the Mercedes sim driver Ant Davidson…) that Bahrain suits Ferrari more than other tracks - I’m not entirely sure how much I believe that (a drivable car with smooth delivery and good tyre life is a good thing on pretty much all tracks) but it’ll be something to look out for.

I think it’s been a very good pre season and although there’s still a lot we don’t know (eg engine modes/fuel loads, Melbourne upgrades etc) I am cautiously optimistic.

I dont know how anybody can determine what cars are good at what tracks given the sample of one, and that just being a test, not an actual competitive race. lol

Commentary guys always just gotta yap about something, I guess. Hard to find things to talk about over an 8 hour test.

Yeah, I thought it was a bit spurious, especially given the source (always thought he has a big conflict of interest as a commentator tbh). But I don’t think it’s just filling time - had Mercedes been top, there would have been no such caveats, only superlative (the classic “ominous” getting trotted out). I thought it was kind of a b.s. take from Davidson (that the rest also picked up on) but it is true that Melbourne will be a very different challenge for everyone in terms of regen - Max, who I think is pretty honest and straightforward, said the same - so it could certainly be a different picture. How that impacts Ferrari I think is entirely unclear though.

Whilst I’m on it though: another silly narrative I’m hearing is that Ferrari’s (supposedly) smaller turbo means less overall power. That seems a very basic assumption imho. Have Ferrari not also used a smaller turbo throughout the previous V6 engine cycle? This really isn’t new/a surprise and hasn’t hurt them in ICE power in the past.

[venkyhere]

This has been the best testing session since Bahrain 2022 for sure.
Obviously this time there is a huge unknown, which is relative engine performance. We don't know how strong each engine is, really.

I'm really surprised because i thought the car was going to be a disaster from an aero point of view and clearly that isn't the case. I've been very critical with Ferrari because last year was really too much to bear.
Hopefully this year is going to be better.

[motobaleno]

I'm a McLaren fan and bleed papaya but its genuinely fascinating to see Ferrari innovating again and see Ferrari fans get excited again. I truly hope it is not another false dawn and that Ferrari and McLaren can fight for the title like the old days. If neither McLaren driven wins the WDC, I really hope it is Lewis's 8th (9th?). Good luck Tifosi!

You are the man!

[venkyhere]

Has anyone got any of the data from the long runs today?

I have a pictorial view of entire Bahrain test2

[dans79]

https://x.com/KemalSengulll/status/2024898420473823268

Ferrari is leaving Bahrain happy; correlation is good, they're satisfied with durability. Performance is also good.

There are also new parts prepared for Melbourne.

Both Leclerc and Hamilton have given positive feedback so far. But they're aware that Mercedes is keeping its hand hidden.

Lewis and Charles seen leaving the paddock in good moods as well for whatever thats worth

I think the merc keeping it's hand hidden part is more bs on the part of the journalist than anything else. With a cost cap and extremely restrictive regulations, it is very risky for teams to try and play games.

[sucof]

I'm a McLaren fan and bleed papaya but its genuinely fascinating to see Ferrari innovating again and see Ferrari fans get excited again. I truly hope it is not another false dawn and that Ferrari and McLaren can fight for the title like the old days. If neither McLaren driven wins the WDC, I really hope it is Lewis's 8th (9th?). Good luck Tifosi!

Let me congratulate to you for showing so much sportsmanship and fairness, This was very nice!

[Fakepivot]

aside from performance, i thought (totally not biased way) that sf26 looked best on track, weather in bright sunlight or evening twilight, that glossy red is hot.. also love how nice that sculpted side pod looks from front on there a nice sloping curvature just looks mega.. what you guys think? best looking car?

[Vinlarr89]

When it first rolled out I was underwhelmed, however the more I see it on track, I really think it’s far more advanced than I first gave it credit for, and looks to have good scope for future upgrades in multiple directions. Also very good looking car from all angles imo. My only wish is that the hp logos weren’t there or where white on red or vice versa.

[ScuderiaLeo]

https://x.com/KemalSengulll/status/2024898420473823268

Ferrari is leaving Bahrain happy; correlation is good, they're satisfied with durability. Performance is also good.

There are also new parts prepared for Melbourne.

Both Leclerc and Hamilton have given positive feedback so far. But they're aware that Mercedes is keeping its hand hidden.

Lewis and Charles seen leaving the paddock in good moods as well for whatever thats worth

I didn't see a single frown from Leclerc across both weeks

Now compare this to last year's testing... I know everyone wants to be a body language expert but even the journalists keep commenting on how happy Leclerc is. It's contagious!

[ScuderiaLeo]

To me this has always been a quiet sign of whether Leclerc likes a car. There have been times where he's been very open about disliking a car because he can't stay on the throttle, like early 2023 and 2025. I don't know if it helps him gain lap time but it's something he enjoys doing which is important, glad to see he's comfortable with this car right away.

[SB15]

After seeing Leclerc lap, these cars are going to be way more rapid than people think. We going to see some insane speeds in Melbourne