The details behind Ferrari's F1 2026 debut - and what is to come
Ferrari made its first appearance at the Barcelona shakedown test on Tuesday, with Charles Leclerc getting behind the wheel in the morning. The Monegasque driver achieved a total of 64 laps as he gave the debut to the brand-new Ferrari SF-26. In a predetermined plan, Lewis Hamilton was always due to take over in the afternoon. The focus of the day was partly on checks of various operating modes of the power unit and partly, should the weather conditions allow, on a first observation of the active aerodynamics. Because of the conditions, it was Leclerc who was able to pick up driving duties covering the latter part. He was the only driver working with the so-called Partial Active Aero Mode, the third aerodynamic configuration approved by the FIA at last December's World Motor Sport Council. This mode represents a compromise between the configuration for straights (Straight Mode) and the standard corner mode (Corner Mode). The choice of this mode depended heavily on track conditions. After several early runs on a largely dry track, the asphalt became wet during the morning due to heavy rain. Although the track later dried out again, grip levels remained variable until the lunch break. This prevented Ferrari from fully completing the scheduled program. Leclerc's runs, however, provided valuable information. The different modes of the power unit, combined with extensive aerodynamic measurements involving flow-vis on the rear wing, determined the shape of his outing. Hamilton drove his program mainly in wet conditions with limited grip. The seven-time world champion tallied 58 laps, which means the more pronounced aerodynamic test work for him will be pushed forward to the remaining days of testing. Reliability Although lap times are not a priority at the moment, one aspect clearly stood out positively: the reliability of the power unit. Already during the first day of testing, no significant problems were reported by the Haas and Cadillac customer teams - both for the combustion engine and the battery. That represents an important basis in this preparatory phase, in which teams are faced with many technical issues. These must be answered not only during this test in Barcelona, but also during the following two sessions in Bahrain. During the remaining days of testing, Ferrari is focusing primarily on the dynamic analysis of the SF-26. The emphasis here is on extensive data collection around the suspension and on aerodynamic performance, particularly the distribution of downforce generated. The various modes (recharge, boost and overtake mode) of the power unit also remain the subject of evaluation, especially during long runs. This will look specifically at energy recovery through the various systems, with extra attention to regeneration during braking.
