Ferrari closed out the 2026 F1 Bahrain pre-season test with Charles Leclerc posting the fastest lap time, though concerns about their turbo were raised by several engineers in the paddock.
Leclerc’s 1:31.922 lap on Friday evening put him almost nine-tenths clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris. However, testing times are always tough to interpret with so many variables in play, including fuel loads and engine settings.
What tends to carry more weight is how a team looks over a long run. And Craig Slater has reported that after speaking to multiple engineers around the paddock, Ferrari only seems to be third-best heading into the new season, which kicks off at the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8.
One particular point of concern has been Ferrari’s choice of a smaller turbocharger for their V6 engine. While it helped them get off the line quickly during testing sessions in Bahrain, some feel this could turn into a liability once racing gets underway.
Ferrari’s small turbo may become a ‘problem’ at power-hungry circuits, say F1 engineers
To address turbo lag issues seen across the grid, Ferrari have opted for a smaller unit in their new engine setup. This comes in response to changes brought by the 2026 regulations, which removed the MGU-H—a component that previously helped teams manage lag.
But while their starts looked quick and they didn’t need to keep the revs as high as some other teams to avoid lag, some in the paddock are wondering if this choice could hurt them later in the season at tracks like Monza or Albert Park.
Craig Slater told Sky Sports News: “Now, it’s very good for starts, we’ve seen that. They’ve made lightning starts. But could that be a deficit and a problem, particularly on power-sensitive tracks, places like Spa and Monza and Silverstone and maybe even Albert Park, first race of the season?”
Mercedes seen as early front-runner for 2026, with McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull chasing
After talking to several people during testing in Bahrain, Slater noted a growing feeling that Mercedes are the team to beat heading into the first race, ahead of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. The belief is that the strength of the Mercedes engine is what’s giving McLaren a slight edge over their rivals.
The paddock also expects there will be “a bit of a gap” back from the big four teams. Alpine and Haas are expected to be fighting for best of the rest, followed by Racing Bulls and Audi. Williams have often seemed “a bit undercooked”, but should still be in front of Cadillac and Aston Martin.
Slater added: “These are based on conversations I’ve had with team personnel, people with a direct window into GPS traces, that kind of thing, and with a viewpoint on how things will play out over the course of the season.
“So we’re looking at which are the best all-round cars as far as we can tell leaving testing at this moment,” he added. “And I think circuit-specific form is going to be a big aspect in this season. But having said that – and this seems to be consensus view – Mercedes seem to be slightly ahead right now.”
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