Ferrari faces an urgent need for a complete winter reset after the 2025 Formula 1 season ended in disappointment across all fronts. Expectations had been high for the Scuderia, especially with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the wheel, but the season proved to be a harsh reminder of the challenges Maranello still faces.
Lewis Hamilton has already been seen at Ferrari’s Maranello factory since the conclusion of the 2025 season, participating in post-season activities including testing at Abu Dhabi. Unlike most drivers, who typically take the off-season to relax and recover before the next campaign, Hamilton’s winter preparations are set to be intense. With teams privately testing their cars ahead of the upcoming 2026 regulation changes, there is little room for downtime.
Ferrari made an early decision in 2025 to shift their focus to the 2026 season after it became clear they were not in a position to challenge McLaren. Throughout the season, the Scuderia found themselves leapfrogged by both Mercedes and Red Bull, and tensions arose internally regarding the technical direction of the car.
Internal conflict: Hamilton disagreed with Loic Serra on development decisions
According to a report by The Race, Lewis Hamilton disagreed with chief technical director Loic Serra over the decision to halt development of the 2025 SF-25 midway through the season. Team principal Fred Vasseur publicly stated that Ferrari had not actively worked on the SF-25 since April, but internally, this decision caused friction.
The Scuderia’s technical team opted to prioritise rear suspension upgrades and largely abandon further aerodynamic development, concentrating instead on next year’s car. Unfortunately, the rear suspension update proved ineffective, leaving Lewis Hamilton struggling with rear-end stability—a challenge that Charles Leclerc managed far more successfully.
By the time the team reached the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, even a planned floor update had been cancelled. Sources suggest that Lewis Hamilton would have preferred the SF-25 to continue receiving development work, but Loic Serra’s department chose to close R&D funding for the car. This lack of alignment between driver input and technical decision-making contributed to the British driver’s difficulties in extracting the car’s potential throughout 2025.
Hamilton attempted to guide Ferrari using insights gained from his experience at Mercedes, but some staff were reportedly resistant to his input. In hindsight, given the team’s struggles last season, the Scuderia may have benefited from taking his advice more seriously.
Ferrari must learn from rivals to return to the front
As Formula 1’s oldest and most storied team, Ferrari has unmatched experience, including supplying power units to other teams like Haas. Yet, the 2025 season highlighted a troubling unwillingness to adapt lessons from competitors like Red Bull and Mercedes. Ferrari’s decision to ignore Lewis Hamilton’s guidance resulted in avoidable setbacks on track.
Lewis Hamilton is not an engineer or designer, but his extensive experience and collaboration with some of the sport’s leading technical minds makes his input invaluable. The comparison with Williams, who also shifted focus away from car development early in the year, demonstrates how poorly Ferrari managed their priorities in 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Briton will know that his performance depends not only on his driving but on the competitiveness of the Ferrari car. If the team fails to provide a car capable of challenging at the front, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc risk another frustrating season, undermining Ferrari’s long-term ambitions.
Ferrari now faces a critical winter period to reassess priorities, align driver input with technical strategy, and ensure that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are equipped to compete at the very highest level when the 2026 Formula 1 season begins.
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