Why is Ferrari the Benchmark?
The Red Resurrection: Why Ferrari is the Stealth Benchmark of 2026 As the desert dust settles on the first two phases of the 2026 pre-season shakedown, the paddock is beginning to realise that the " Prancing Horse " isn’t just running— it’s hunting. While Mercedes has dominated the " headline " lap counts with a staggering 1,410 total research laps across their power unit family, it is the purity of Ferrari’s operation that has the engineers in the pit lane looking over their shoulders. The Vasseur Reset: A Masterclass in Reliability Fred Vasseur didn't just walk into the 2026 regulations; he kicked the door down with a " clean slate " philosophy. Ferrari completed the first week of testing, covering over 4,500 kilometres (including the Barcelona shakedown) without a single major mechanical failure. The " One Engine " Feat: Remarkably, reports suggest Ferrari ran the same internal combustion unit for the entire first week in Bahr...
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