On Tuesday at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, alongside Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, took part in the second day of the 2026 Formula 1 preseason tests amid wet weather conditions. The session unfolded as part of a private, five-day testing window, with teams permitted to run for up to three days each.
While Red Bull and Ferrari sent their drivers out in challenging, rain-soaked conditions, most other teams, including reigning world champions McLaren, chose to stay off the track. McLaren intends to participate fully in their scheduled days, starting from Wednesday.
Verstappen Leads Morning Session Before Afternoon Swaps
The morning segment saw Verstappen and Leclerc setting the pace on the damp surface, with Verstappen posting the fastest time of the day at 1:19.578, narrowly edging out Leclerc by 1.3 seconds. Both drivers ran intermediate wet tyres, adapting to the slippery track conditions that prevailed for much of the day.
Following the morning laps, Verstappen and Leclerc handed over the cars to their teammates, Isack Hadjar for Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari, for the afternoon session.
Hadjar’s Crash and Verstappen’s Near Off-Track Incident
Hadjar, completing his second day with Red Bull, crashed into the barriers in the final sector during the afternoon run, causing the session to be red-flagged. Fortunately, Verstappen also went briefly off track earlier in the day but avoided damaging his car, enabling the team to maintain their test schedule.
Despite the incidents, testing progressed under strict privacy, with limited information released publicly, though images confirmed both Ferrari and Red Bull competing in wet conditions.
New Ferrari SF-26 Makes Barcelona Debut Amid Early Optimism
Tuesday marked the first appearance of Ferrari’s SF-26 at the official preseason test in Barcelona, following a short preview at the team’s Fiorano circuit the previous Friday. The car drew positive attention as Leclerc expressed enthusiasm about the team’s potential.
I hope we are the team that will manage to make the difference. But wherever we start, we will push at the maximum to try and bring Ferrari back to the top. It’s been quite a few years, so I hope that this one is ours.
— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc’s comments reflect the team’s cautious but hopeful attitude about closing the gap with their rivals, particularly as new regulations offer opportunities for significant advancements.
Mercedes Absent But Viewed as Early Contenders
Despite Mercedes not participating in Tuesday’s session, they remain early favorites to challenge for the championship, especially with the Australian Grand Prix looming on March 8. Their absence was part of a strategic plan within the private testing schedule rather than an indication of issues.
Impact of Limited Running and Weather on Preseason Preparations
The poor weather conditions and selective participation have limited the amount of data teams can collect, raising cautious anticipation about the performance landscape in the upcoming season. The mix of wet testing and controlled track time emphasizes the importance of optimizing limited opportunities to develop cars and refine setups before the opening race.
With McLaren expected to resume testing Wednesday, all eyes will be on how the major teams progress in adapting to new cars and regulations as the 2026 season approaches.
