Ferrari enters the 2026 Formula 1 season hoping to rebound from a challenging 2025 campaign that saw the team finish fourth in the standings without a victory. With drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton leading the effort, the Scuderia aims to capitalize on new technical regulations. The team shifted focus to 2026 preparations early, a decision its principal described as psychologically tough but necessary.
Ferrari's 2025 season began with high expectations following a close battle for the constructors' title in 2024, where they finished just 14 points behind champions McLaren. The arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes generated significant buzz, but the year proved difficult for the Italian outfit.
Early promise came at the Chinese Grand Prix, where Hamilton secured a Sprint victory in the SF-25 car. However, both he and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the main race due to technical infringements, setting a tone of inconsistency. Leclerc claimed a surprise pole position in Hungary, but the team struggled overall, marking their lowest constructors' finish since 2020 at fourth place. No wins were recorded, the first such drought since 2021.
Team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the challenges of redirecting resources toward 2026 amid the season, calling it 'tough to manage psychologically' but expressing confidence in the decision. Leclerc echoed this, describing the shift as a 'no-brainer' once it became clear a 2025 title challenge was unlikely.
Hamilton, in his debut Ferrari year, endured a winless and podium-less season for the first time in his career, ending without the accolades typical of his 380 starts. Despite this, both drivers return for 2026, with Leclerc entering his eighth season at the team, boasting eight Grand Prix wins and 50 podiums from 171 starts.
Ferrari's rich history underscores the stakes. As the only team to compete in every F1 season since 1950, they hold 16 constructors' titles and 15 drivers' championships, the last by Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Their most dominant era came from 2000 to 2004 under Michael Schumacher, securing five consecutive drivers' titles.
For 2026, the goal is clear: provide a winning car under new rules and surpass last season's performance. Hamilton, reflecting after the Abu Dhabi finale, noted he lacked a mindset for the next year but aims for better results ahead.