Ferrari are gearing up for the 2026 Formula One regulations, with next year shaping up as a crucial one for the futures of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, among others.
The Scuderia struggled through 2025 after team principal Fred Vasseur made the call to prioritise the 2026 rule changes as early as April. He shut down development on that season’s car in favour of putting resources toward future gains.
That decision came at a cost. Ferrari ended up without a single win, finishing fourth in the constructors’ standings. Leclerc and Hamilton also finished fifth and sixth in the drivers’ championship, with just 242 and 156 points over 24 Grands Prix and six Sprints.
It was also the first time in his 19-year career that Hamilton went through a season without stepping onto a Grand Prix podium. The result has only added to growing calls for him to consider retirement. Leclerc’s position is also under question, especially with interest building from rival teams ahead of the 2027 campaign.
Ferrari’s 2026 F1 front suspension set-up can deform at speed
FunoAnalisiTecnica has reported that Ferrari have come up with an ‘intelligent’ way of addressing their suspension problems from last year, which could be vital in shaping the future of Hamilton, Leclerc, and Vasseur.
The team struggled to find an optimal platform in 2025, making it difficult to get the most out of the car and tyres. In response, technical director Loic Serra pushed for a more flexible front suspension set-up heading into 2026.
Working closely with multiple departments at Maranello, Serra helped develop a system that limits floor movement while still producing effective downforce. Ferrari achieved this by layering carbon skins on the suspension arms to allow them to flex under high speeds.
The FIA only checks the flexibility of upper front wishbones through static tests, which Ferrari’s new approach is expected to pass. Still, Serra tasked his team with designing a system that remains within these rules but deforms appropriately under load – something he described as ‘extremely complex’.
Ferrari’s flexible suspension could play a role in the futures of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Ferrari are banking on their new flexible upper front suspension wishbone to pay off in 2026 after a 2025 season defined by persistent ride height issues. Changes made over the winter led to ongoing problems throughout the year, leaving them looking for solutions.
Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix in March, just a day after winning the Sprint race, due to excessive wear on his floor plank. The incident forced Ferrari to raise the ride height of the SF-25 to avoid similar issues for the rest of the season.
A rear suspension upgrade introduced at Spa failed to fix their problems, prompting Ferrari to return to push-rod suspension in 2026 after admitting that switching to pull-rods had been a mistake.
The addition of flexibility in Ferrari’s front suspension wishbone adds another variable for them heading into 2026. If Serra’s plan does not work out, it could extend their struggles and further cloud future prospects for Hamilton, Leclerc and Vasseur.
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