According to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, outright pace holds little significance during the initial pre-season testing period for the 2026 Formula 1 championship, given the impending overhaul of rules.
The 2026 racing season is set to bring about modifications to both the engine and vehicle structure, resulting in lighter, more compact cars with an increased focus on electric propulsion.
Given the significant regulatory shift for the next year, three distinct pre-season testing sessions are scheduled: Barcelona (January 26-30), Bahrain (February 11-13), and a subsequent session in Bahrain (February 18-20).
The Barcelona session will be conducted privately, allowing teams to adjust to the fresh regulations away from public scrutiny, prior to the inaugural Australian Grand Prix held from March 6-8.
“Nine days of testing are unfamiliar to us,” Vasseur stated. “Over the past four or five championships, we only had three. While it offers an advantage, it also necessitates an entirely different agenda.
“This implies that our primary objective for a season like this is to establish dependability. Firstly, accumulating track time is essential. Furthermore, we aim to prevent a repeat of 2025, where, following a disqualification early in the season, we sacrificed valuable running time and benchmarks, subsequently playing catch-up.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
“This is an extended undertaking. Our initial priority in Barcelona will be to gain extensive running time with the vehicle, to ascertain its robustness, identify areas for enhancement, and determine necessary responses, as insights gained in Bahrain would leave insufficient time to prepare for Australia.
“The Barcelona session will undoubtedly prioritize accumulating mileage over achieving peak performance.”
The head of the Ferrari team anticipates that all participants will appear at the initial test with what he describes as “a spec A” rather than a mule car, which is expected to considerably differ from the version that competes in Melbourne.
Vasseur consequently believes that this rapid advancement will characterize the forthcoming regulatory period, particularly as Ferrari aims to secure its initial championship since its 2008 constructors’ victory.
“The upcoming year will not hinge on the season’s initial imagery, nor will it solely depend on the Australian race results; instead, it will largely concern ongoing progression and the ability to implement swift advancements,” remarked Vasseur, whose squad secured fourth place in the 2025 rankings.
“The season will certainly not conclude in Australia; whether we finish first or tenth, it will be an extensive journey until the finish, an extended journey for all competitors.”
Further contributions from Stuart Codling
