Ferrari fell far short of expectations in the 2025 Formula 1 season, and now a prominent voice in motorsport journalism has delivered a blunt assessment of the Scuderia’s disappointing year ahead of the regulation changes for 2026.
The Maranello team concluded the 2025 season in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, a result that failed to meet championship ambitions and inevitably attracted critical commentary. Among those voices, Giuliano Duchessa, founder of AutoRacer.it and a contributor to Corriere della Sera, offered a candid verdict on Ferrari’s struggles during an interview with Sportitalia.it.
Duchessa explained that the season, particularly after Abu Dhabi, was drastically different from expectations. Lewis Hamilton endured significant challenges, breaking several negative records, a scenario that many thought unimaginable. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc gave his all, securing seven podiums in a clearly underperforming SF-25. Persistent issues with the skid block limited a car designed to run extremely close to the asphalt, and the departure of Technical Director Enrico Cardile further exacerbated the situation.
Duchessa: “Very little to save”
Asked if there was anything to salvage from 2025, Giuliano Duchessa was unequivocal: “Very little, except perhaps further growth from Leclerc. He demonstrated important things with a car that, as Fred Vasseur said, was no longer developed. The focus was already on next year’s car: to avoid losing development time, all upgrades on the current car were halted. Qatar was emblematic: nothing worked.”
According to Giuliano Duchessa, the only department that performed flawlessly during the season received recognition for its efforts. The 2026 season, he emphasized, represents a critical opportunity for Ferrari, making it essential to concentrate all resources early. The upcoming 678 project is under the technical leadership of Loic Serra, who is planning a major suspension overhaul, including a return to push-rod systems both front and rear.
The Ferrari 2026 car is being developed under strict confidentiality. The Sporting Management has become more closed off, implementing a transformation that affects both organization and internal culture. In recent years, Maranello’s culture emphasized communication and information sharing between departments. Moving forward, data will remain tightly controlled, access limited, and collaboration restricted until the project reaches completion. Leclerc and Hamilton have already tested the latest 678 simulator version and approved the progress made, while the chassis has successfully passed the crash test—a key milestone in the car’s development.
As the team shifts focus from the difficulties of 2025 to building a competitive car for 2026, Ferrari’s fans will be watching closely to see if the Scuderia can convert lessons learned into championship-winning performance. With a technical revolution underway and internal processes tightened, the focus will be on Maranello when the new season begins.
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