Game-changer for Ferrari? Lewis Hamilton demonstrates potential F1 2026 advantage

Lewis Hamilton demonstrated a possible key benefit Ferrari has over its Formulation 1 rivals on the penultimate day of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

F1 has been trialing a brand new tweaked begin process on the finish of pre-season take a look at periods to alleviate security issues referring to the 2026 rules.

Race begins have turn into a scorching matter throughout each Bahrain exams, with groups calling for modifications after a number of drivers expressed issues about potential risks referring to the beginning sequence.

With the MGU-H system faraway from F1’s new technology of automobiles, drivers are having to rev up their V6 combustion engine for round 10 seconds to spool up their turbochargers at the beginning of races.

All through pre-season testing, the groups and drivers have been seen experimenting with numerous procedures, with combined outcomes.

To assist groups get on prime of turbo lag points forward of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 8 March, F1’s governing physique the FIA has been dedicating time to hold out mock standing begin procedures.

Why is the Ferrari so fast off the road? 

Ferrari is thought to have blocked an preliminary push to vary the principles as a result of it has engineered an answer to fight any turbo lag points. 

Due to Ferrari’s smaller turbo, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc don’t have to rev for so long as their opponents. This additionally advantages Ferrari’s buyer groups Haas and Cadillac.

The benefit of this was clear to see on Thursday when Hamilton aced each follow begins earlier than the lunch break and on the finish of the day.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton charged previous former Mercedes teammate George Russell with a rocket launch off the road on the finish of the morning session.

“Have a look at the Ferrari off the road!” Anthony Davidson famous throughout Sky Sports activities F1’s reside protection. “He didn’t simply pull alongside, he annihilated him.”

Then, on the finish of the penultimate day, Hamilton once more swept into the lead with an much more spectacular getaway.

Lining up from the third row of the grid, Hamilton blasted forward of his rivals from fifth earlier than diving down the within of Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes at Flip 1.

The energy of Ferrari’s race begins impressed Sky Sports activities F1 commentator David Croft, who stated: “Watch the primary nook in Melbourne for a Ferrari or two.

“Others round can be pondering ‘what are they doing?’.”

Ferrari flip heads on disrupted day 

Ferrari grabbed consideration in additional methods than one on Thursday, firstly by debuting an astonishing ‘the other way up’ rear wing design within the morning. 

It was not all smooth-sailing, nonetheless, as Hamilton suffered curtailed working for the second consecutive day. 

Hamilton misplaced three hours of the morning session as a consequence of what Ferrari described as being a “small challenge” on his SF-26. 

The 41-year-old Briton ended the day fourth within the timesheet and accomplished 78 laps on what was his ultimate look of pre-season testing. 

Hamilton additionally needed to lower brief a long term within the afternoon, earlier than switching focus to some efficiency runs. 

Leclerc will return to motion on Friday to conclude Ferrari’s 2026 testing programme.