Guenther Steiner explains the ‘problem’ with backing Ferrari to win the 2026 F1 title after testing

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Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari proved during pre-season testing in Bahrain that the SF-26 is a “good” car, but he cannot back them to contend for the 2026 title just yet.

The Scuderia impressed many over the past two weeks in the Sakhir desert, where Charles Leclerc finished the final day of the test with the overall best lap time. Leclerc set a 1:31.992 this Friday to mimic Lewis Hamilton, who set the best lap time at the Barcelona shakedown.

Ferrari also caught the eye with their rapid practice starts and their host of new parts across the two Bahrain tests. Hamilton trialled Ferrari’s radical flipping rear wing in Bahrain, where the Maranello natives also revealed an exhaust flap that their rivals will not be able to copy.

Eyes were immediately drawn to the rear of the SF-26 when Leclerc crept out of the pit lane with flow-vis paint covering Ferrari’s exhaust flap, designed to improve the efficiency of their rear diffuser. Ferrari had to design their gearbox from the off with the exhaust flap in mind.

Has your favourite to win the 2026 F1 title changed after testing?

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Guenther Steiner refuses to rank Ferrari as anything more than a ‘top four’ team on testing alone

Now, many in the paddock see Ferrari as being anything from the team to beat to the third-best crew ahead of the 2026 F1 season starting in Australia in March. But Steiner claims it is still too early to state whether Ferrari will be genuine F1 drivers’ championship contenders.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Steiner believes it is a classic Ferrari trait to show some encouraging signs in testing but then fail to build on that promise when the lights go out and every team reveals their actual potential. So, while the signs are promising, Steiner will only rank Ferrari among the big four.

“Ferrari is Ferrari, I’d say,” Steiner told sport.de. “You never really know where they stand. They’re up there, but are they right at the front? That’s always the problem with Ferrari.

“You can see the car is good. They’re in the top four. I’m sure Charles Leclerc wants to be the world champion. And if the car is capable of it, he’ll fight very hard to finally bring this championship home for Ferrari.”

McLaren receiving an upgraded Mercedes engine in Australia should alarm Ferrari

The F1 paddock thinks Mercedes are the team to beat in 2026 after testing. Do you agree?

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Many still believe Mercedes will be the team to beat at the start of the 2026 F1 season, as it is widely thought that the Silver Arrows did not show their full potential in Bahrain. McLaren are also thought to have more pace in their locker than they teased over the last two weeks.

According to BBC Sport, Mercedes did not give McLaren the new specification of their 2026 F1 regulations engine during the Bahrain tests. Only the Silver Arrows’ works team had their latest power unit, so McLaren should now expect to make another step forward in Australia.

McLaren receiving an upgraded Mercedes engine in Melbourne should alarm Ferrari, as the 2024 and 2025 constructors’ champions are already viewed as a stronger team heading into 2026 than the Scuderia by some – giving Steiner another reason to cool his expectations.