Following the final major upgrade of their 2025 car, Ferrari have shifted the bulk of their technical focus toward the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, joining a growing number of rival teams taking a forward-looking approach. With the new rules set to bring extensive changes to aerodynamics, engines, chassis, and tyres, Ferrari’s engineers are now prioritizing next year’s car development over further 2025 improvements, reflecting the wider trend across the grid as teams prepare for the sport’s most significant technical overhaul in years.
With the 2026 Formula 1 regulations set to introduce sweeping changes across aerodynamics, power units, chassis, and tyres, teams are anticipating a potential shake-up in the competitive order on the grid. Aerodynamic innovations, in particular, will present a significant challenge for design departments, as active aerodynamics make their first appearance in Formula 1. In response, Ferrari technical director Loïc Serra has redirected all his efforts toward developing a 2026 championship contender.
Earlier this year, Serra had to briefly pause his 2026 work to focus on Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade, which debuted at the Belgian Grand Prix in an attempt to extract more performance from the SF-25. The update was designed to improve the car’s ride height management and balance, providing better performance by running the chassis closer to the ground.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur believes that this suspension upgrade could provide useful insights for Ferrari as they transition into 2026, even though the new rules mean there is very limited technical carryover from 2025 cars. Fred Vasseur also noted that McLaren and Mercedes are taking a similar approach with their own upgrades, recognising that developments in 2025 can still offer valuable lessons for next season.
The Frenchman explained that the focus on suspension, brake systems, and other key components this year is part of a deliberate strategy to inform 2026 car development. While aerodynamic work is always a priority, the performance gains from suspension improvements are particularly relevant because teams can carry knowledge forward, even if the specific parts themselves cannot be reused. He highlighted that the concentrated efforts on suspension upgrades this season are not coincidental, pointing out that Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari have all invested heavily in this area. The approach is strategic rather than reactive, ensuring that lessons learned this year help with next year’s technical challenge.
Mercedes, however, abandoned their rear suspension upgrade after the changes caused stability problems for George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, leading to a loss of confidence in the W16. Russell’s performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he overtook Charles Leclerc for P3 without the new suspension, underlined the risks associated with such upgrades. Questions remain about the effectiveness of Ferrari’s rear suspension update, particularly after the Hungarian Grand Prix, when Leclerc’s race was compromised to protect the car’s skid plank, dropping him from a potential victory to fourth place.
Meanwhile, McLaren surprised many with a bold front suspension upgrade ahead of the 2025 season. The team continued to refine the design to improve Lando Norris’ car feel, although Oscar Piastri will not be using the new front suspension. The approach illustrates how some teams are aggressively experimenting with suspension concepts to gain insights that can be applied when developing their 2026 cars, ahead of the major regulatory shift.
For Ferrari, the hope is that the rear suspension work in 2025 will provide a meaningful foundation for 2026, helping them reduce the gap to McLaren, who currently lead the Constructors’ Championship by 299 points. The Maranello squad’s ability to translate this season’s technical lessons into next year’s car could be decisive in determining whether they can challenge for championships under the new rules.
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