Lewis Hamilton described Ferrari’s opening day of 2026 Formula One testing in Barcelona as intense but productive, as wet conditions shaped much of Tuesday’s running. The seven-time world champion completed 57 laps during the afternoon session, while Charles Leclerc drove in the morning, bringing Ferrari’s total mileage to 123 laps across the day.
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Despite rain affecting conditions, Hamilton said the session allowed the team to gather valuable data ahead of the new regulations. Ferrari are seeking improvement after a challenging previous season, in which the team failed to secure a grand prix victory and Hamilton did not reach the podium. With the Australian Grand Prix five weeks away, the focus remains firmly on preparation rather than outright performance.
Leclerc recorded the quicker of the two Ferrari lap times, running in dry conditions earlier in the day, though his best effort remained more than a second adrift of the overall pace set by Max Verstappen. Elsewhere, Red Bull experienced a late setback when Isack Hadjar crashed into the barriers near the end of the session.
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Ferrari’s head of track engineering, Matteo Togninalli, stressed that it is too early to draw conclusions on competitiveness. He noted that the priority is understanding the car’s behaviour and systems, building knowledge gradually over the coming days as the team concentrates on its own development programme.
