Featured Image Credit: Federico SCOPPA / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Formula 1, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FIA, Motorsport
Ben McCrum
Topics: Formula 1, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FIA, Motorsport
The FIA will reportedly investigate Ferrari's car ahead of the 2026 Formula One season following Lewis Hamilton's impressive testing performance.
Ahead of the return of Formula One in just five weeks, the majority of the 11 teams set to compete in the 2026 season are taking part in the first testing sessions of the year.
With a series of new regulations introduced ahead of the upcoming season, F1 teams have been making use of an additional weekend of testing currently underway behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Although the testing is intended to be completely private and away from the media, the lap times of some of the drivers taking part have been leaking online, giving an early look at who could be the best performers in 2026.
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In their first day of testing, Ferrari star Hamilton took the 2026 car out on track in Barcelona, and it's now been reported that following the session the FIA may review the car ahead of the 2026 season starting.
During the morning session Charles Leclerc completed 66 laps in Ferrari's SF-26, with his fastest lap time being a 1:20.844 before the wet conditions came in later in the day.
Hamilton took over from his teammate in the afternoon, impressively competing 57 laps in wet and slippy conditions that saw him run off into the gravel at one stage, with a best lap time of 1:33.455.
Overall, the early signs for Ferrari are promising, with the Italian team looking to be one of the stronger teams to have competed in testing so far, particularly given the fact that they are only using a baseline version of their 2026 car in testing.
But, a report form SPEEDWEEK has claimed that the FIA, Formula One's governing body, are growing increasingly concerned about rumours that the engineers in Maranello have been 'aggressive' with the new car's aero concept.
Previous reports have suggested that gone all out to cut the aerodynamic drag with their 2026 car, and so the FIA are planning to ‘take a closer look’ at the SF-26 before approving it for next season.
Speaking about first day of testing, Hamilton said: “Very challenging today, obviously, because it started raining at 10:30, so obviously Charles had a little bit of dry running, but then it's been wet all afternoon, so figuring out how to get the tyres working.
“It was really productive, I think we got about 120 laps or something like that; given it's in the wet conditions and we had a red flag and that, I think that's pretty solid.
“So, really proud of everyone back at the factory for getting the car to this point, and we got a lot of information on the car today. We definitely need to keep it up, lots and lots to do, but a good first day.”