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All eyes were on Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car in Bahrain as they stunned fans with their launch during race starts, but as it happens, they were not actually the fastest.
It was a hugely encouraging pre-season test for Ferrari in Bahrain, as Charles Leclerc set the fastest overall time in the second week, eight tenths quicker than Kimi Antonelli in P2.
Of course, timings must be taken with a pinch of salt, with Ruth Buscombe saying Ferrari ‘always’ turn up their engines during testing. However, the Maranello outfit can be pleased with their findings in Bahrain.
Ferrari set the fastest overall lap time at both pre-season tests for the first time since 2019!
What do you believe is possible for Ferrari in 2026?
F1 CEO and former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali says Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are feeling ‘confident’ after a strong outing at the Sakhir International Circuit. They tested numerous new components and showed decent reliability.
But the team’s practice starts were the most impressive thing from Bahrain, as Ferrari-powered cars were often seen rocketing past their rivals to the front of the pack by the first corner.
Bahrain test data shows Mercedes’ power unit was the fastest on average in race starts
While the Maranello outfit looked impressive, ‘everyone’ in the paddock said Mercedes were the fastest in Bahrain over Ferrari. Rumours before the season suggested that the Brackley outfit would have the best power unit in 2026, and now, there is data to prove it.
A report from BBC Sport discusses the practice starts in Bahrain and how the new 2026 engines are now ‘much harder to get off the line’. There have been ‘safety concerns’ over the possibility of a slow starter getting hit from behind by a faster car.
Subsequently, a new start procedure was tested during the second week, allowing drivers more time to spin the turbos to the ‘optimum speed’. As seen on social media, Ferrari drew the most attention for how quickly they took off from the grid.
Looking at these clips, it would be assumed that Ferrari have the advantage, but according to the data, it was actually Mercedes that had the best starts on the grid.
They made up four of the top five positions, followed by the Ferrari-powered cars. Racing Bulls were second, while Red Bull, despite having the same power unit as their sister team, were actually last.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Where do Ferrari currently stand for the Australian Grand Prix?
With pre-season testing done, everyone will be guessing where the teams will place come the Australian Grand Prix in March. After testing, it would be natural to assume that Ferrari will be challenging at the front, and possibly for victory.
Fred Vasseur has changed Ferrari’s objective for the season opener in Melbourne. The team principal is now gunning for victory in Australia after Leclerc and Hamilton impressed in Bahrain testing.
How much have Ferrari impressed you in testing?
The pair went winless in 2025 as Ferrari finished fourth in the standings. They have worked tirelessly on the new regulations to build a more predictable car, and early signs suggest that they have made strong progress.
However, Guenther Steiner refuses to back Ferrari, regarding them as merely a top-four team, as they often fail to deliver on their performances in testing. Whether they can translate this into race results is up to them.
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