Ferrari’s disappointing 2025 Formula 1 campaign unfortunately showed no signs of improvement at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and there are growing fears that the situation could remain bleak even with the major regulation changes set to arrive in 2026. While hopes remain high for a turnaround under the new technical framework, recent developments suggest the Scuderia may already be off-track with their early efforts.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will mark the most significant regulation overhaul in the sport’s history. New power unit rules, revised aerodynamic guidelines, and chassis design standards are expected to completely reshape the competitive landscape. As a result, most teams have already begun diverting major resources towards the development of their 2026 contenders. Ferrari is no exception, having shifted its focus in light of unmet expectations for the 2025 campaign.
At the start of the year, team principal Frédéric Vasseur expressed confidence that Ferrari would be able to challenge for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. However, those ambitions have faded. As the paddock enters the summer break, Ferrari sits second in the constructors’ standings—but a staggering 299 points behind dominant leaders McLaren. In the drivers’ championship, Charles Leclerc holds fifth place with 151 points, while new teammate Lewis Hamilton is sixth with 109.
Ferrari’s Suspension Update Backfires Amid 2026 F1 Car Development
The Hungarian Grand Prix proved to be yet another setback for Ferrari. Despite securing pole position with Charles Leclerc, the Italian outfit left the Hungaroring with no podium finish. Leclerc ultimately fell to fourth place by the chequered flag, while Hamilton endured a frustrating weekend, qualifying and finishing in a distant 12th—his worst race result since joining the Scuderia.
Charles Leclerc had delivered an excellent qualifying lap in cooler Q3 conditions to beat McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to pole. But Ferrari could not convert that advantage into a podium, as the Monegasque finished 42.560 seconds behind the race winner. While five of those seconds came from a time penalty for erratic defending against George Russell, the larger issue was the team’s emergency technical intervention during the race.
According to a report from the Italian media, Ferrari initially cited a chassis issue to explain Leclerc’s dramatic drop in performance. However, it later emerged that the team had been forced to raise his SF-25’s ride height by inflating tyre pressures to avoid excessive plank wear—a critical issue under current FIA regulations. This change led to significant losses in aerodynamic downforce, increased wheel spin, and elevated tyre temperatures, severely compromising his pace.
This incident has cast doubt over the success of Ferrari’s rear suspension upgrade, introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix. The update was overseen by technical director Loïc Serra, who temporarily paused work on the 2026 car project to focus on improving the current SF-25’s predictability and performance. The goal was to allow the car to run lower to the ground, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. But the complications seen in Hungary suggest that the upgrade may have failed to achieve its purpose.
Even more concerning is the fact that this rear suspension concept was designed not only to improve the 2025 package but also as a key validation step for Ferrari’s 2026 car philosophy. The issues Leclerc experienced at the Hungaroring have therefore raised internal fears that this development direction might represent a “complete failure” in the context of next year’s all-new regulations.
Ferrari Risk Ending 2025 Without a Grand Prix Victory
During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Leclerc initially held the lead and managed to fend off pressure from Piastri, who struggled to stay within DRS range. However, after Ferrari was forced to increase tyre pressures and switch to a conservative engine mode to protect the plank, Charles Leclerc rapidly fell back. If the team sacrificed a potential podium to avoid a possible disqualification for excessive wear, it underscores deeper design flaws that could carry over into 2026.
Now, serious questions are being asked about the effectiveness of Ferrari’s rear suspension concept. Should it prove fundamentally flawed, the team’s early investment in 2026 car development could already be compromised. While there is still time to correct the direction, the signs are not encouraging.
Ferrari currently stands as the only team among Formula 1’s top four—alongside McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes—without a Grand Prix win in 2025. While Lewis Hamilton claimed a Sprint Race victory from pole in China earlier this season, that success remains their only taste of triumph. Their position in the Constructors’ standings, second behind McLaren, owes more to consistency than race-winning performance.
Mercedes is now just 24 points behind Ferrari in the fight for second place, with McLaren operating on another level entirely. George Russell has scored 172 of Mercedes’ 236 points, leading the charge ahead of rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Red Bull’s situation is similarly lopsided, with Max Verstappen contributing 187 of the team’s 194 total points.
Ferrari Must Address Technical Flaws Before 2026 Regulations Take Effect
As Formula 1 prepares for its most dramatic regulatory transformation in decades, the pressure on Ferrari’s technical department is immense. The team’s early commitment to validating 2026 concepts through the SF-25’s development appears to be backfiring. If the current rear suspension truly represents a failed experiment, it could set the Scuderia back at a time when getting ahead of the curve is more critical than ever.
Ferrari must now assess whether its direction for 2026 remains viable or whether a significant rethink is required before it is too late. With McLaren surging ahead, Mercedes closing in, and Red Bull still dangerous despite their struggles, the battle for future supremacy has already begun—and Ferrari cannot afford another misstep.
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