As the 2025 Formula 1 season unfolds with results falling short of expectations, Scuderia Ferrari is beginning to seriously evaluate which direction to take in preparation for the 2026 World Championship campaign.
With the second half of the 2025 season underway, most Formula 1 teams are gradually shifting their technical and strategic focus toward the 2026 season. That year will mark the introduction of a brand-new technical regulation package, creating a significant opportunity for teams to reset and gain competitive advantage. For Ferrari—an iconic team that has not won a Constructors’ or Drivers’ Championship title since 2008—this regulatory overhaul may represent a crucial window to return to the top.
However, an ongoing concern within the Maranello-based team is that the development of the 2026 Formula 1 car might end up favoring one of their current drivers more than the other. This issue is becoming a focal point in internal discussions, particularly given the contrasting performances of their drivers so far in 2025. Former Formula 1 driver and current Ferrari advisor Jérôme D’Ambrosio addressed this delicate matter in a recent media interview.
In this 2025 season, Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc is once again proving to be the leading figure at the Scuderia. Despite the SF-25 not meeting pre-season expectations in terms of performance, Leclerc has managed to secure four podium finishes. Meanwhile, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton—who joined Ferrari this year after his long stint at Mercedes—has struggled to extract consistent pace from the car and has yet to step onto the podium in a Grand Prix. His only notable result so far was a Sprint Race victory in China.
Due to these ongoing struggles, Hamilton is reportedly pushing the team to allocate more resources and attention toward the development of the 2026 car. Given the fact that the regulations will bring an entirely new set of design parameters and aerodynamic philosophy, the British driver hopes to have more influence over a car that will be a clean slate for everyone. Nevertheless, Jérôme D’Ambrosio has made it clear that Ferrari’s core objective remains unchanged: to build the fastest and most competitive Formula 1 car possible, without prioritizing any one driver’s preferences.
“At the moment, Loic Serra and the entire technical team are focused on developing the fastest possible car,” said Jérôme D’Ambrosio to the media. “There are objective metrics and performance targets we are working toward in order to achieve that. Then, there is a second phase of the project, where we ensure that both drivers have the necessary tools to balance and fine-tune the car to suit their own driving styles.”
Jérôme D’Ambrosio cautioned against the narrative that a Formula 1 car is ever truly “built around” a single driver: “We need to be careful when we say that a car is being developed specifically for one driver or the other. The car is always built to extract the maximum overall potential.”
Since late 2024, Loic Serra has been leading the development program for Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car. Before joining Ferrari, Serra worked closely with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for several years, which naturally contributes to smoother communication between the two.
“The fact that Serra collaborated with Lewis at Mercedes for many seasons obviously helps their communication,” said Jérôme D’Ambrosio. “But Loïc Serra also has an excellent relationship with Charles Leclerc. In fact, we all do. Often, we sit down with both drivers, discuss everything openly, put all the data and feedback on the table, and try to understand their respective needs—then translate those needs into development directions.”
Ferrari’s approach, according to D’Ambrosio, remains firmly rooted in performance-oriented processes: “We are working hard to improve the performance of the car in several key areas, and that remains our central focus. Ultimately, the results we achieve on the track—and how we position ourselves compared to the competition—will be the direct outcome of that development process.”
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