Hamilton's Ferrari Test Halted as Red Bull Rolls Out Upgrades

Lewis Hamilton's final pre-season test day with Ferrari was cut short by a technical issue, preventing the team from completing its planned program. Meanwhile, Red Bull unveiled a significant aerodynamic upgrade package for Max Verstappen, signaling an aggressive development push as Mercedes continued to set the pace on the timesheets with Kimi Antonelli.

Why it matters:

The final test days are critical for teams to validate their cars and build confidence before the season opener. Ferrari's lost running with their new star driver is a setback in their preparation, while Red Bull's visible upgrades and Mercedes' underlying pace confirm a tight, multi-team battle is brewing for the 2026 season.

The Details:

• Ferrari's Setback: Hamilton confirmed an issue with the SF-26 caused a "painful" lengthy stoppage, robbing the team of valuable track time for data collection and setup work on his last day in the car before the first race.
• Red Bull's Aggressive Package: Beyond a new front wing, Red Bull introduced several updates to the RB22, including modifications to the sidepods and additional aerodynamic winglets around the engine air-intake and rear crash structure.
• Mercedes' Strong Showing: Rookie Kimi Antonelli topped the times for Mercedes on the second day, lowering the testing benchmark and suggesting the Brackley squad has strong one-lap performance in hand.
• Race Simulation Concerns: Data indicated Max Verstappen's race simulation run was slower than one performed by McLaren's Oscar Piastri, hinting that Red Bull may have work to do on long-run pace compared to its rivals.
• Verstappen's Tyre Feedback: The reigning champion labeled the current Pirelli tyres as "super sensitive," a factor that could add unpredictability to race weekends.
• Wolff's Fury: Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff reacted angrily to fresh speculation about a race against time to homologate their fuel supply, following earlier controversies.

What's next:

With pre-season testing complete, all eyes turn to the first race weekend. The true competitive order will finally be revealed under qualifying and race conditions. Teams will now analyze their final data, with Ferrari hoping their issue was minor, Red Bull validating their upgrades, and Mercedes looking to convert testing pace into a winning start.