Ferrari, along with every other team competing on the Formula 1 grid this season, has now decisively shifted its complete and undivided attention toward the highly anticipated upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season.
Currently, McLaren appears strongly positioned to secure the prestigious constructors’ championship, with their nearest and fiercest competitors, Scuderia Ferrari, facing an almost insurmountable 299-point deficit in the standings. Even if Ferrari were to deliver an extraordinary mid-season upgrade package—one that could arguably be considered the greatest in the sport’s entire history—it is highly unlikely they would be able to close such a significant points gap before the season concludes. Consequently, Ferrari, under the leadership of team principal Frédéric Vasseur, is primarily focusing its efforts on preparations for the 2026 campaign, putting aside all but the usual Monza-specific aerodynamic and mechanical updates that Ferrari typically introduces each year in an effort to maximize performance during their iconic home race weekend.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will introduce a comprehensive and far-reaching overhaul of the sport’s technical regulations, completely redefining the design and performance parameters of the racing cars. Testing for the next generation of Formula 1 cars is already underway, with teams eager to understand how the new 2026 cars will function under real track conditions. Charles Leclerc recently took part in a Pirelli tyre test at the Hungaroring circuit, shortly after competing in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Alongside him were other notable drivers including Lando Norris of McLaren and Alpine’s reserve driver Paul Aron. While the Monegasque and Norris recorded slower lap times compared to Aron during the course of the test, these times cannot be directly interpreted as measures of performance, as the test conditions varied widely. Factors such as different engine modes being employed, the specific types of tyres being tested, and variations in the car setups mean that lap times alone do not provide an accurate reflection of outright speed or car performance during these test sessions.
While utilizing Ferrari’s sophisticated simulator to assess the performance and characteristics of the 2026 car, Charles Leclerc has been openly critical of the upcoming technical regulations. His views mirror concerns shared by several other drivers currently competing on the Formula 1 grid, including Lance Stroll. These sentiments highlight the challenges and uncertainties faced by drivers adapting to the dramatic changes being introduced in 2026.
Italian motorsport journalist Franco Nugnes recently provided additional insight by sharing comments from a Ferrari designer regarding Charles Leclerc’s tyre test in Hungary. The designer revealed that one particular aspect of the test was regarded within the Ferrari technical team as a “complete waste of time,” underscoring some internal skepticism about certain elements of the testing process.
According to Franco Nugnes, speaking on Motorsport Italia’s YouTube channel, the Ferrari test crew remained at the Hungaroring alongside Charles Leclerc to trial new technical concepts aimed at preparing for the 2026 regulations. This was viewed as a very positive indication that Ferrari believes many of the problems encountered with the current SF-25 car could potentially be resolved or significantly improved upon with the new 2026 car design.
Nugnes elaborated that the FIA had granted teams permission to simulate and experiment with an innovative active front wing concept, which would be controlled by the driver using a push-button mechanism. This development was intended to provide Pirelli, the Formula 1 tyre supplier, with a unique opportunity to better understand how tyre behaviour evolves throughout an entire lap of a circuit, rather than just in isolated conditions of full load and full unload. This represented a substantially more complex and nuanced approach to testing tyre dynamics and car aerodynamics.
However, Franco Nugnes shared that a Ferrari designer expressed significant skepticism regarding this particular aspect of the test. The designer characterized the active front wing experiment as largely futile because the current front wing design used on this year’s car bears no relation to what will be required under the 2026 regulations. In other words, working on front wing movements and adjustments that have no practical relevance to the next year’s car design was seen as an inefficient use of time and resources. Nevertheless, Ferrari chose to proceed with the test rather than abandon it, which Nugnes described as an encouraging and positive decision by the team.
Looking further ahead, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton fully understand that the 2026 Formula 1 season represents their best opportunity to mount a serious challenge for the drivers’ championship. Ferrari is particularly desperate for either of their two star drivers to secure a race victory before the conclusion of this current season, to maintain momentum and boost confidence within the team.
Charles Leclerc appeared well positioned to break his winless streak at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but a sudden and unexplained issue during the final stint of the race caused him to drop from first place down to fourth, severely damaging his chances of claiming a maiden victory this season.
Despite reports suggesting that Ferrari has experienced what could be described as a “complete failure” in their early preparations for the 2026 regulations, the team has undoubtedly gathered a wealth of valuable knowledge and data from the shortcomings and performance limitations of this year’s SF-25 car.
The crash involving Franco Colapinto during testing on the same day as Charles Leclerc’s Pirelli tyre test in Hungary further highlights the considerable challenges that the next generation of Formula 1 cars will present.
These upcoming cars are expected to generate significantly less aerodynamic downforce compared to current models, which will make high-speed corners much more difficult to navigate efficiently and safely.
Ferrari’s hope is that the additional front wing development work conducted at the Hungaroring will yield crucial data and insights, enabling the engineering team to confirm that the car’s development trajectory is progressing in the right direction as the sport approaches this major new regulatory era.
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