The American team took to the track at Fiorano on Saturday morning to complete the first kilometers in the VF‑26 with Oliver Bearman behind the wheel. This provided an opportunity to verify the proper functioning of all systems ahead of next week’s Barcelona tests.
Just 24 hours after Ferrari, Fiorano once again became the focus, this time with a car powered by a Ferrari engine. Breaking the silence was the roar of the VF‑26, hitting the track Saturday morning to complete its initial laps in preparation for the Barcelona tests.
This debut was particularly significant because the team could check that all components of the car were functioning correctly before heading to Spain, where teams will have only three days to gather data and truly get to know their 2026 machines.
It was an opportunity to maximize preparation, and for this reason several teams have made sure that everything works perfectly, aiming to identify and solve any minor reliability issues—always a possibility with a completely new project like the 2026 car—before traveling to Barcelona.
Taking the VF‑26 on track for the first time was Oliver Bearman, a young talent from Ferrari’s driver academy who joined Haas last season as a full-time driver after serving as a reserve. The VF‑26 had been among the first cars revealed during the winter, but only through a series of renderings.
The Fiorano shakedown finally offered a real track experience, confirming some details already visible in the renders, such as the front wing and a generously sized airbox designed to ensure proper cooling for the VF‑26. Now all eyes turn to Barcelona, where the team will have the chance to get to know their new car in much greater depth.
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