Fred Vasseur changes Ferrari’s Australian Grand Prix target after strong testing form in Bahrain

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Fred Vasseur says Ferrari are aiming for a race win at the Australian Grand Prix after an impressive display during pre-season testing.

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets on the final day, clocking a 1:31.992. His closest rival, Lando Norris, was almost a full second behind with a 1:32.871.

While it’s unlikely Ferrari have a true nine-tenth lead over the field, there’s no denying their SF-26 looked sharp in single-lap runs.

Lewis Hamilton lost track time on Thursday due to some issues, but Ferrari made up for it by completing over 130 laps on the final day. Overall, their new car and power unit have shown solid reliability throughout testing.

Ferrari goal is a win in Melbourne after a strong pre-season testing

Vasseur had said previously that it “didn’t matter” if Ferrari finished as low as P10 at the season opener. But after what he saw during the off-season, his tone has noticeably changed.

Bahrain, with its long straights and tight corners, is often considered more of a ‘power track’, while Albert Park offers a much quicker and more fluid layout. For this reason, Vasseur isn’t putting too much weight on what came out of testing.

Ferrari have only won the opening round twice since 2010 (Sebastian Vettel in 2018, Charles Leclerc in 2022) but they believe they can start 2026 on the top step.

Vasseur told Canal+:“Are we going to Melbourne to win? Yes, but so are McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.

Will Ferrari’s explosive race starts give them the edge in Melbourne?

Before any pre-season running had taken place, Vasseur was already talking about a shifting pecking order under the new rules. But early predictions now have Ferrari as a clear top-two team heading into Round 1.

Their SF-26 has earned a reputation for its quick launches off the line, and that could be key in Melbourne even if Mercedes holds the qualifying edge. Early pace and track position might be what matters most on this circuit.

Ferrari’s choice to run a smaller turbo is helping with their starts, but there are questions about whether it’ll cost them outright power at other venues during the season.

The upside-down rear wing seen during testing was another bold move from Maranello. They haven’t played it safe this year — and early signs suggest it might just pay off.