‘Sources close’ to Ferrari say they’ve already taken a bold gamble with Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 F1 car

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Ferrari’s 2025 car concept was inherently risky. They overhauled last year’s design, with a revised front suspension the headline change.

The Scuderia were clearly emboldened by their near-miss in last year’s constructors’ championship. Unfortunately, their aggression has taken them further away, with McLaren a crushing 238 points ahead at the halfway stage.

Ferrari designers haven’t publicly expressed any regret about their 2025 choices. But the departure of Enrico Cardile may have left a void in the technical department, preventing the vision from being truly realised.

The team have since introduced multiple upgrades designed to make their car more compliant and less extreme. Ferrari’s Belgian Grand Prix update will determine their prospects for the remainder of this year (they still haven’t won a race) and could influence 2026 plans too.

Ferrari take a risk by delaying pivot to 2026 Formula 1 car – have they left it too late?

This year, every Formula 1 team has faced an acute dilemma. This is due to the sweeping regulation changes for 2026, encompassing both the car’s aerodynamics and the engine.

There is always a trade-off between short and long-term goals in F1, but the stakes are rarely this high. It’s been more than three months now since it emerged that Williams had permanently removed their 2025 car from the wind tunnel.

They were the first to do so, but as a midfield outfit, they can make sacrifices with relatively few repercussions. Even though Ferrari are realistically out of contention for both championships, their results will always be under intense scrutiny.

• READ MORE: Everything we know about F1’s 2026 regulation changes from engines to tyres

That may be part of the reason why, according to Formula1.it, Ferrari have ‘decided to continue investing’ in the SF-25. ‘Sources close’ to the team confirm that they’ve only halted development in ‘recent weeks’.

From now on, all of the ‘budget and resources available’ will be devoted to the new car. But ‘only time will tell’ whether Ferrari have left it too late and neglected their 77th entry.

What Ferrari insiders are saying about their new rear suspension at Belgian Grand Prix

It’s not as if Ferrari’s work for the remainder of the season will have no bearing on their performances from next year. But at a minimum, both wings will be completely different (thanks to the introduction of movable aerodynamics), as will the power unit – this is a case of revolution rather than evolution.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of an eighth championship could hinge on whether Ferrari have got this right. It’s unclear at this stage whether they’ve made the jump later than their competitors.

Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were on track at Mugello last week testing out the new rear suspension, which comes shortly after modifications to the floor. They used one of their permitted ‘filming days’ to run some initial tests.

Insiders say Ferrari are cautiously optimistic about the upgrade before its debut in Belgium. It often takes time, though, for a team to optimise such a development on track.