Ferrari’s mindset has changed—and we should be proud

Ferrari’s mindset has changed—and we should be proud. Ferrari has adopted a new mindset for 2026 after a challenging 2025 season.

There is a persistent aura surrounding everything Ferrari does: it can turn into pure joy if the work is well executed, or become a source of criticism and disappointment if mistakes are made. Either way, the Maranello team is always talked about. Thanks to its history and the prestige built over decades, being part of the Prancing Horse is never simple.

Ferrari has faced many difficult seasons in Formula 1, but 2025 was certainly one of the toughest. While other years may have been more challenging in terms of performance, what truly disheartened fans was a seemingly ‘marginal’ yet crucial factor: the power of communication.

Dreams shattered

January 2025 saw Lewis Hamilton arrive in Maranello: who could forget that iconic photo of the British driver in front of the F40 and the building that was once Enzo Ferrari’s home? From that moment, other images followed, leading up to the SF-25 presentation and finally the March 6 event in Milan. In Piazza Castello, the fans’ joy was palpable, fueled by the team’s speeches and promises.

“I would be disappointed if we don’t win even one world championship,” Charles Leclerc admitted on that occasion. We all know how the season ended. Communication from January to March raised expectations and world championship dreams, only to confront a harsh reality soon after.

Giving credit where it’s due

Mistakes can be a starting point, and it must be acknowledged that Ferrari has decisively changed course heading into this season. In Maranello, months of hard work have been focused on a new approach: silence. The presentation of the SF-26 confirmed this shift: let the track, the engine sound, and the fans’ emotions speak, while the team members remain silent.

Pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Bahrain International Circuit proved promising for the SF-26, which covered a total of 6,061.64 km, or 1,181 laps. Reliability was flawless, with programmed tests, various simulations, and configurations explored throughout the sessions. During these days, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, team principal Frédéric Vasseur, and technical director Diego Ioverno spoke on several occasions, urging calm and continued work both on the track and in the factory.

Yes, Ferrari still finishes winter testing as leader—but we should be proud

Charles Leclerc’s Friday afternoon lap raised the bar: the Maranello team heads to Australia as the top performer in pre-season testing. In the past, we might have laughed this off, but now it calls for reflection. Ferrari has done its homework well, isn’t shouting about world championship dreams, and the team’s ‘faces in the office’ convey satisfaction while showing restraint.

In a sport where speed is everything, Ferrari allows a rare element that can seem out of place in this context: patience. Let’s trust the work done, appreciate the positive signs seen so far, and approach this new season with the best intentions.