Vasseur explains why Ferrari achieved its target in Bahrain
Ferrari concluded the opening three‑day pre‑season test in Bahrain with an encouraging level of reliability, completing an extensive programme that delivered both mileage and valuable technical insights.
The Scuderia's team principal Frédéric Vasseur expressed clear satisfaction with the team’s approach, emphasising that Ferrari achieved exactly what it set out to do during this first phase of preparation for the 2026 season.
Across the three days, the SF‑26 completed 423 laps, equivalent to 2,291 kilometres, marking one of Ferrari’s most productive opening tests in recent years. The final day saw Lewis Hamilton complete 149 laps, continuing the team’s structured programme of set‑up work, tyre evaluation and configuration comparisons.
Vasseur made it clear that Ferrari entered the test with a specific priority: mileage and understanding. As he explained, “Going into the season, the target was to make the most of the first test sessions by accumulating mileage and collecting as much data as possible.”
He stressed that the team had succeeded in this objective, adding, “So far, everything has gone well from an operational point of view, with good reliability and plenty of laps completed, which is important both for our preparation and to analyse the data back in the factory.”
The Ferrari boss highlighted that the information gathered in Bahrain will play a crucial role in the team’s development path over the coming weeks. He stated, “We will use this information to continue improving the car and our understanding of all procedures.”
His comments underline Ferrari’s methodical approach: the team is not chasing lap times at this stage but building a foundation for performance later.
Vasseur also made a point of separating early‑test mileage from outright competitiveness. He cautioned that performance is not yet the focus.
“Performance is a separate matter: the priority at this stage is to build knowledge and put ourselves in the best possible position ahead of Melbourne, knowing that we still have time to make further steps forward.”
