Team boss Frederic Vasseur has openly admitted that the 2025 Formula 1 season “wasn’t good” for Ferrari, as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory throughout the year.
Frederic Vasseur entered the 2025 campaign with high hopes, believing that it could finally be the year Ferrari returned to the top of Formula 1 after years of frustration. The Scuderia last won the F1 drivers’ championship in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, and their last constructors’ title came in 2008.
The close finish in 2024, where Ferrari ended just 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings, initially fueled team principal’s optimism. However, he quickly realised how far the team had fallen behind their rivals. By April, the French team principal made the strategic decision to halt development on the 2025 car and shift focus entirely to the 2026 regulations.
This choice prioritised wind tunnel time for the new rules over aerodynamic upgrades for the 2025 SF-25, but it came at a cost. Lewis Hamilton endured the most difficult season of his 19-year Formula 1 career during his first year with Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc also suffered a winless campaign, marking his fourth such season in seven years with the team.
Despite the struggles, Frederic Vasseur has been emphasizing to both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton that the 2026 season will bring a completely fresh start. Frederic Vasseur explained that the end-of-year discussions were focused on lessons learned, but the overarching message was clear: 2026 represents an entirely new challenge. He highlighted that the new season will feature a completely new chassis, engine, battery, fuel, and tyres – essentially “new everything” under the updated regulations.
Ferrari’s technical issues in 2025 were compounded by chronic ride height problems caused by a suspension setup that proved problematic throughout the season. For 2026, the team has decided to revert to push-rod suspension on both axles, acknowledging that the previous pull-rod configuration was a mistake.
However, the most critical performance factor under the 2026 regulations is expected to be the engine. With the share of electrical power increasing from 20% to 50% and the MGU-H component removed from the power unit, teams will also switch to 100% sustainable fuel. Mercedes is widely tipped to have the strongest 2026 power unit, potentially returning the Silver Arrows to the top of the grid.
Meanwhile, concerns are mounting at Maranello regarding the reliability of Ferrari’s own 2026 engine. Reports suggest the Scuderia is racing against time to find solutions, particularly as they fear Mercedes may have uncovered a loophole in the new engine rules. This could allow the Silver Arrows to increase combustion efficiency during operation, a trick that Audi and Honda are reportedly also wary of.
As Ferrari enters this pivotal period, Frederic Vasseur continues to reinforce to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton that 2026 offers a fresh opportunity, but the Scuderia will need to deliver on all fronts to compete with Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren under the new regulations.
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