Ferrari chairman reflects on 2025 F1 shortcomings as team rebounds in 2026

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has openly stated the team's 2025 Formula 1 campaign "fell short of ambitions," a season marked by a winless record and a challenging debut for Lewis Hamilton with the Scuderia. However, Elkann emphasized the brand's resilient mindset of learning from setbacks, a philosophy already bearing fruit as Ferrari has emerged as Mercedes' closest challenger in the revitalized 2026 season.

Why it matters:

Elkann's candid admission to shareholders highlights the intense pressure and high expectations at the sport's most historic team, even as it celebrates success in other racing categories. His focus on accountability and a culture of learning signals a strategic shift within Maranello, one that appears to be translating into immediate on-track performance with the new regulations, positioning Ferrari for a potential return to championship contention.

The details:

• In an open letter, Exor CEO and Ferrari Chairman John Elkann delivered a blunt assessment of the 2025 F1 season, contrasting it with the team's dominant success in endurance racing, where it won the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• The 2025 F1 campaign was Ferrari's first winless season in over a decade. High-profile signing Lewis Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish in his first year wearing red.
• Elkann referenced founder Enzo Ferrari's "museum of mistakes"—a collection of broken parts—to underscore that racing involves learning from failure, stating the team possesses the "determination to return stronger."
• This rebound is already evident in 2026. Ferrari holds a 100% podium record in the early races, with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton both finishing in the top three, and the team sits a clear second in the Constructors' Championship.

What's next:

The early 2026 form validates Elkann's message of resilience and suggests the painful lessons of 2025 are being applied. The team's current trajectory places it as the primary threat to early-season leaders Mercedes. Maintaining this development pace and converting podium finishes into race wins will be the critical next step to determine if this revival can evolve into a sustained title challenge.