Ferrari’s first day of 2026 Method 1 pre-season testing was made “very difficult” by the rain however featured “no main points”, Lewis Hamilton recapped.
F1 has reconvened for a gap five-day take a look at behind closed doorways at Barcelona, with groups allowed to run on three of these days.
After shaking down its new SF-26 at Fiorano on Friday with a 15km Demonstration Occasion, Ferrari opted to skip the primary day of operating – not like most squads – and as a substitute run on Tuesday.
That day was largely shunned by rival groups, with solely Pink Bull becoming a member of the Scuderia on monitor, because of the menace of rain within the afternoon; precipitation appeared on the Catalan monitor even sooner, midway via the morning.
This meant Charles Leclerc and Hamilton needed to cope with precarious monitor situations within the morning and the afternoon respectively, however they nonetheless coated a whopping 121 laps based on unofficial timing.
“Very difficult as we speak, clearly, as a result of it began raining at 10:30, so clearly Charles had a little bit little bit of dry operating, however then it has been moist all afternoon, so determining the best way to get the tyres working,” Hamilton recounted.
“It was actually productive, I feel we received about 120 laps or one thing like that; given it is within the moist situations and we had a pink flag and that, I feel that is fairly stable.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
“So, actually pleased with everybody again on the manufacturing unit for getting the automobile thus far, and we received a number of data on the automobile as we speak. We positively must stick with it, tons and much to do, however an excellent first day.”
A key side to this take a look at is F1’s brand-new chassis and engine laws, that includes energetic aerodynamics and a near-50:50 break up between combustion and electrical energy in addition to higher vitality administration to play with.
The final time the world championship had such a monumental overhaul was in 2014 when turbo hybrid energy models had been launched, and the opening take a look at had been a wrestle for all groups resulting from an abundance of reliability points – which, in 2026, places Ferrari’s first take a look at day into perspective.
“It could possibly be a lot worse on such an enormous regulation change,” Hamilton identified. “So to get via the day with out too many main – there have been no main points, it is simply small little increments that we’re making an attempt to enhance on. I feel it is nice, and as I stated, we simply must try to get some extra days like this.”
The seven-time world champion was unable to totally become familiar together with his SF-26’s new aerodynamic and engine instruments on Tuesday because of the rain, however he was nonetheless enthused by the brand new equipment.
“I’ve had the privilege of being right here for a very long time, 19 years, so been via various totally different vehicles,” he stated, enumerating half a dozen totally different rulesets. “So a number of totally different swapovers, however that is the most important one which I’ve seen.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Ferrari
“I do not wish to say an excessive amount of about it simply but, as a result of it is troublesome to know. As I stated, I’ve solely pushed it within the rain. I imply, it is lots much less downforce than we had final 12 months, however we do not have the porpoising that we had final 12 months, or at the least in 2022 after we began it. So there’s positively positives.
“And it is massively difficult for everyone, for each staff, which I feel is nice. It actually places everybody on the again foot. I imply, everybody’s actually going to form of be on their toes and studying as you go.
“And whoever develops the quickest, whoever is the neatest in optimising the time and the vitality deployment and growth would be the ones on the high. And I feel this provides everybody an opportunity to get to the highest, which is sweet. And so we’re simply all arms on deck making an attempt to verify we maximise it.”
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