Vasseur encouraged as Ferrari hits mileage targets in Bahrain

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Ferrari wrapped up a productive pre-season testing stint in Bahrain, leaving team principal Fred Vasseur with a sense of a job well done.

The Italian outfit focused on gathering extensive mileage and data, a goal that was largely achieved, setting the stage for a strong start to the 2026 season.

Charles Leclerc capped the second and final Bahrain test with the fastest time of the three-day session, recording a 1m 31.992s lap while completing 132 laps on Friday. The Scuderia’s approach centered on consistency, reliability, and collecting crucial data for further development.

“Happy, yes, but we have to keep in mind what was the target at the beginning,” commented Vasseur, reflecting on the team’s progress.

“Our target was to do a lot of mileage and I think this went pretty well, to collect data, to try to improve session after session, and I think this went well.”

While upbeat, the Frenchman tempered any early speculation about outright pace, emphasizing that comparisons are difficult without knowing rivals’ setups.

©Ferrari

“Now, performance is not relative – it’s not performance relative and, at the end of the day, we don’t know the level of fuel of the others, we don’t know the engine mode, we don’t know that we didn’t have the same tyres,” he said.

“It means that, let’s be focused on ourselves to try to do a better job in Melbourne and this weekend, and we’ll see where we are.”

Focus on Development and Momentum

Looking ahead to the season opener in Melbourne on March 6-8, Vasseur stressed that rapid development will be more critical than immediate race results.

“I had a clear idea before this session that I don’t want to say it doesn’t matter, the result of Melbourne, because I prefer to have a good result than a bad one,” he said.

©Ferrari

“But at the end of the day, I know that the development will be so huge during the season that the most important is the capacity of the team to develop, the capacity of the team to bring parts quickly, much more than the performance at race one.

“It means that we need to keep the momentum of the season and to be focused on development.”

With a solid testing foundation and an emphasis on continuous improvement, Ferrari enters the new season with both confidence and a clear plan to stay competitive.

The Scuderia now shifts focus to Melbourne, where strategy, pace, and development will all come under the spotlight.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.