We’ve reached a crucial point in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Not only because of the intense summer heat the drivers are about to face, but also because every team must make a major decision: continue developing this year’s car, or shift focus to the future? Ferrari seems to have made up its mind and has identified a key date: from that moment on, all eyes will be on the 2026 project.
Since its first laps during testing in Bahrain, the SF-25 has raised doubts among many fans who were hoping for a “winning project.” The car seemed decent, but never quite on the level of the one that immediately stood out: McLaren. Only over the course of the Grands Prix did all the weaknesses of the new Ferrari emerge, once again revealing a car that’s not up to standard.
Despite the major issues—from the struggles in Melbourne to the disaster in Miami and the double disqualification in China—Ferrari is still McLaren’s closest challenger. That said, there’s little reason to celebrate: the points gap between the two is almost 200 (362 to 165). Considering that Ferrari ended last season just 14 points behind, this situation is staggering.
Even though the current car is far from ideal, Ferrari still has some updates in the pipeline. The first package will debut in Austria with a new floor, followed by the final upgrade in Silverstone featuring a new rear suspension. But after that, Maranello is drawing the line.
According to information gathered by the Italian website PaddockNews24, Ferrari will stop development of the 2025 car at the end of June and focus entirely on the 2026 Formula 1 project. All teams—sooner or later—will have to abandon work on their current machines and concentrate on the new generation of cars that will race under the revolutionary regulations set to debut next year.
This shift will be a key factor in the early part of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Teams that begin focusing on the new project ahead of others could gain a significant performance advantage.
Leave a Reply