Scuderia Ferrari HP wrapped up its three‑day shakedown at the Barcelona‑Catalunya Circuit with another 145 laps on the final day, adding 675 kilometres to the SF‑26’s growing tally. Over the course of the week, the car completed 440 laps—a total of 2,050 kilometer’s—giving the team a solid foundation before heading to Bahrain.
Morning – Leclerc Sets the Tone
Charles Leclerc opened the day on Pirelli Medium (C2) tires, logging 49 laps before switching to the C3 compound for another 16. He closed his session back on C2s, finishing with 78 laps (363 km).
The Monegasque’s steady rhythm and adaptability gave the team valuable data across compounds.
Afternoon – Hamilton Adds the Miles
After lunch, Lewis Hamilton took over, running C2 tyres for most of his session with stints of varying lengths and setup checks. With 90 minutes to go, he switched briefly to the C3 compound before ending again on C2s.
Hamilton completed 67 laps (312 km), bringing Ferrari’s day total to 145.
Charles Leclerc: “It’s been a productive shakedown. The wet conditions on day one was tricky with a brand‑new car, but they gave us useful insights.
The last two days were positive, and now the focus is on analyzing everything in Maranello before Bahrain.”
Lewis Hamilton: “It’s been a really enjoyable week. The winter’s hard work from the team showed in the mileage we achieved without major issues. Driving in the wet was valuable, and overall, it’s a solid start.
There’s still plenty to learn, but the atmosphere is focused and positive.”
Team Principal Fred Vasseur summed it up: “We experienced different conditions, from wet to dry, and managed significant running each day. Reliability held up, which is crucial at this stage. It’s still early, but now we’ll return to Maranello to analyze and prepare for Bahrain, which will be more representative.”