Ferrari's 2025 Season Was a Disaster, But 2026 Rules Offer Hope for Redemption

Ferrari's 2025 season was a stark regression, finishing a distant fourth with no wins after challenging for the title the previous year. The campaign was defined by technical missteps and a difficult adaptation for new signing Lewis Hamilton, while Charles Leclerc shouldered the team's results. Now, with a massive regulation overhaul on the horizon for 2026, the Scuderia is banking on a clean slate to reclaim its competitive edge.

Why it matters:

For a team of Ferrari's stature, a winless season is a significant failure that impacts the entire championship narrative. The team's inability to build on its 2024 momentum highlights the fine margins in modern F1 development. The upcoming 2026 rules reset represents a pivotal moment, potentially leveling the playing field and offering Ferrari a genuine shot at redemption against dominant rivals.

The details:

• A Tale of Two Drivers: Lewis Hamilton endured the toughest season of his career, finishing sixth without a single grand prix podium. He struggled to adapt his driving style to the SF-25's narrow operating window, qualifying nearly two-tenths slower on average than teammate Charles Leclerc.
• Leclerc Carries the Torch: In stark contrast, Leclerc was Ferrari's star performer, finishing fifth in the standings. He secured all of the team's three grand prix podiums, including a second-place finish in Monaco, and provided the consistency the team desperately needed.
• Technical Miscalculation: The team's decision to halt aerodynamic development in April and focus on rear suspension created an overly rigid car. This made the SF-25 unresponsive to setup changes, especially when track conditions deviated from simulations.
• Plank Wear Problems: Disqualifications in China due to plank wear violations forced Ferrari into conservative setups, sacrificing performance for reliability and further compromising their race pace.

What's next:

The 2026 season represents a complete reset for Formula 1, and Ferrari is hoping it's the key to a comeback. With revolutionary new power units, active aerodynamics, and lighter cars, the technical hierarchy of the grid could be completely reshuffled. Team principal Fred Vasseur has stated that reliability will be the initial priority over outright performance. For Hamilton, the clean slate offers a crucial opportunity to adapt to a new car from the ground up and rediscover his winning form at Maranello.