Ferrari will want to put the 2025 Formula 1 season behind them and instead, think about the changes they’ve made over the last year and a half.
The addition of Lewis Hamilton was supposed to be a turning point, sparking Ferrari’s first title run since 2008.
Instead, it looks like both drivers will end up around fifth or sixth in the standings, and they’ll need some luck just to break their long wait for a race win.
Charles Leclerc has managed all seven of Ferrari’s podium finishes in 2025, but signs that the SF-25 had issues showed up early in the season.
Fred Vasseur has made several big decisions as team principal this year. But there’s one move he made that might not have matched what his drivers were telling him about the car’s problems.
It took until round 13 for Ferrari to bring any major upgrades to improve upon the success of last season. The changes only came after pressure from both Hamilton and Leclerc started mounting on Vasseur.
Ferrari driver warned Fred Vasseur not to continue with £2.2m suspension update
In the lead-up to the 2025 season, Ferrari described the SF-25 as a complete redesign, shifting from a push-rod front suspension to a pull-rod setup.
A report from Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica has provided more details about the changes Ferrari made in an effort to fix their ride height problems.
Hamilton was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix for excessive plank wear, leading Ferrari to raise their car’s ride height as a precaution for the rest of the season.
This adjustment has forced both drivers to use lift-and-coast techniques throughout much of the year, highlighting one of several issues plaguing the SF-25.
Ferrari works to correct 2025 errors in the development of their 2026 F1 car
Ferrari are working hard to ensure they don’t repeat the same missteps that have held them back in 2025. Although their switch in suspension philosophy hasn’t delivered the hoped-for gains this season, the team is now following McLaren’s blueprint as they shape their 2026 challenger.
Under Andrea Stella, McLaren have established themselves as the benchmark for innovation in the current regulatory era. In just three years, they transformed from backmarkers into back-to-back constructors’ champions — a turnaround few thought possible.
Ferrari, on the other hand, start from a stronger overall foundation, but that brings its own difficulties. Making small, precise improvements to an already competitive car is often far more challenging than completely redesigning a weak one.
The team’s fortunes in 2026 will also hinge heavily on their new power unit. With Mercedes, Honda, Audi and Red Bull all pushing to enter Formula 1’s next era with a decisive advantage, Ferrari face fierce competition on every front as they attempt to join — or surpass — the leading group.
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