Ferrari’s F1 team hasn’t “disappeared,” but it has gone through a rough 2025 season and has essentially sacrificed short‑term performance to focus aggressively on the big regulation reset coming in 2026. The team is betting that this early pivot, plus structural changes in its technical staff, will pay off when the new rules arrive.

Quick Scoop: What’s Going On?

  • Ferrari struggled in 2025, ending up winless and only fourth in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.
  • Team principal Fred Vasseur decided as early as April 2025 to stop meaningful aero development on the current SF‑25 and pour resources into the 2026 car instead.
  • This made the rest of 2025 look flat on track, but internally the focus shifted to mastering the 2026 rules overhaul for chassis and power units.

Why They Look “Off the Pace”

  • McLaren’s dominance at the start of 2025 created a big gap in both pace and points, convincing Ferrari it was “very difficult” to catch up that season.
  • From late spring onward, Ferrari mainly brought mechanical tweaks rather than big aero upgrades, so visible progress compared to rivals was limited during races.
  • Vasseur has admitted they underestimated the psychological hit of racing most of the year with almost no new aero while others kept upgrading.

Inside the Team: Drivers and Dynamics

  • Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were involved in and supported the decision to shift focus early toward 2026, committing to the long‑term project.
  • Fans have voiced frustration in forums, calling weekends “frustrating” and joking that “Ferrari is done” after damaged races and missed opportunities.
  • Some community discussions frame Ferrari as stuck in drama and narrative games, arguing that media often amplifies a “Ferrari is bad” storyline beyond the underlying data.

The 2026 Reset Plan

  • 2026 brings major changes to both chassis and power‑unit rules, meaning everyone is effectively starting with all‑new cars.
  • Ferrari has already restructured parts of its engineering group at Maranello and reinforced aerodynamics, while also losing some engine staff to Audi, signaling a hot talent war before 2026.
  • The team has confirmed a January 23, 2026 launch for its new campaign, just ahead of private pre‑season testing in Barcelona.

So… What Happened to Ferrari F1?

  • On track: 2025 looked like a step backwards, with no wins and a car that faded relative to rivals as the season wore on.
  • Behind the scenes: Ferrari consciously “parked” most development on the current car very early to chase a bigger prize in 2026’s regulation reset.
  • The real story is less “Ferrari imploded” and more “Ferrari gambled on the future,” and 2026 will show whether that long‑term bet was worth a painful short‑term dip.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.