Hamilton's Practice Start Fuels Ferrari 2026 Speculation as Radical Wing Debuts

Lewis Hamilton's strong practice start in Bahrain testing has added fuel to the growing theory that Ferrari may hold a crucial advantage off the line for the 2026 F1 season, a notion that emerged alongside the Italian team's debut of a radical rotating rear wing design on Thursday.

Why it matters:

The opening moments of a Grand Prix are critical, and any perceived advantage in launch performance could define a team's entire race strategy and championship campaign. Ferrari's simultaneous display of aggressive innovation with its rear wing suggests a multi-pronged technical push for 2026, signaling their intent to challenge for the front from the very first race of the new regulations era.

The Details:

• Hamilton's Start Adds Evidence: Mercedes' George Russell previously suggested Ferrari's smaller turbo could give them a race-start edge. Lewis Hamilton's notably quick practice launch during the revised start procedure tests in Bahrain has now added observable data to support this theory, turning speculation into a tangible point of observation for rival teams.
• Ferrari's Radical Rear Wing: The Scuderia unveiled a highly innovative rotating rear wing design. The concept, which sees the mainplane and flap rotate as one, is an extreme interpretation of the 2026 active aerodynamics rules aimed at maximizing straight-line speed and efficiency.
  • Williams Team Principal James Vowles confirmed his team had not considered such a design, calling it "an interesting direction of travel," while technical analysts note other teams explored but rejected similar concepts due to potential aerodynamic drawbacks like a "sail effect."
• Honda Confirms Alonso PU Issue: Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin stopped on track due to a confirmed Honda power unit issue, limiting his running to 68 laps. This follows teammate Lance Stroll's red flag incident on Wednesday, marking a challenging start to testing for the team.
• FIA's Engine Regulation Timeline: FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis explained that power unit manufacturers have until August to implement any changes resulting from an ongoing e-vote. The vote aims to resolve a regulatory saga over the measurement protocol for engine compression ratios, closing a potential loophole.

What's Next:

Testing in Bahrain will continue to be scrutinized for more clues on the 2026 pecking order, particularly regarding race starts and the real-world performance of innovative concepts like Ferrari's wing. The FIA's e-vote outcome on engine measurements will be a key technical milestone, setting the final regulatory framework that manufacturers must adhere to as they finalize their designs over the coming months.