It’s been no secret that Ferrari has encountered several mishaps and problems in this year’s FIA Formula 1 World Championship, most significantly to do with the team’s vehicle. While the esteemed team is often associated by the layman as the pinnacle of motorsport, Ferrari consistently delivers a vehicle that underperforms in comparison to its legacy in race car driving. This new upgrade by the team may show an improved racing season for team drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari welcomes a new team driver
This year, Ferrari was under pressure, and expectations were higher than usual. Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton made his debut with Ferrari this season, after leaving the Mercedes racing team after being their driver for 11 seasons to join teammate Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. The switch from the legendary champion marked a significant move in Hamilton’s racing career, with Formula 1 fans excited to see how he would perform under a new team.
“I feel like… it was obviously the hardest decision that I think I’ve ever had to make. Obviously I’ve been with Mercedes for, I think it’s like 26 years they’ve supported me, and we’ve had an absolutely incredible journey together. We’ve created history within the sport, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved…but I think ultimately I’m writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter,” said Hamilton on his move to Ferrari.
The start of Hamilton’s racing season with Ferrari has not been as smooth as one would have hoped. Currently sitting sixth in the championship, one place behind teammate Leclerc, his best grand prix result has been fourth place while teammate Leclerc has pulled in four podiums for the team for this year’s season.
New upgrades for Ferrari unveiled
Last month, Hamilton expressed his frustration with the team’s car, with both Ferrari drivers being open that this year’s vehicle is due for significant upgrades. However, this clashes with Ferrari racing head Fred Vasseur’s opinion on Ferrari’s underperformance this year, who believes that Ferrari’s current standing has more to do with race day performance than with the car itself.
However, some good news for Hamilton and Leclerc did come their way with regard to the remainder of this season. Ferrari implemented a host of technical upgrades for the car ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, which saw Leclerc take a podium third-place finish and teammate Hamilton taking fourth position. The upgrades hope to ensure that for the remainder of the season, the car’s reliance on lift and coast is reduced and will open up increased opportunities for greater strategic freedom during races, specifically in terms of skid-block wear.
Ferrari sets its sights on the 2026 season
While the new upgrades are refreshing to see for the remainder of this year’s racing calendar, it seems that Ferrari has decided to prioritize next year’s performance as opposed to playing catch-up this year. Ferrari made a headline decision last month when they officially stopped wind tunnel testing of this year’s car and instead focused their attention on the first model of the future 2026 car, one which will be very different from this year’s car.
2026 is set to be a landmark year for all cars lining up on the grid next year, due to a host of new regulations changes regarding car designs. In addition, new circuits are to be added to the racing calendar next year with other recent additions set to become cornerstone hosts for the next decade of racing. One of the most anticipated changes for next year is the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel for cars as the championship aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
