Ferrari made the decisive choice to deprioritize the 2025 Formula 1 season early, redirecting their full attention and resources to the development of their 2026 car. The Scuderia’s objective is clear: to deliver a championship-contending car for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that can compete at the very top under the new technical regulations.
The Italian team has not claimed the F1 drivers’ championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007, while the constructors’ championship has eluded Maranello since 2008. Heading into the 2025 season, Ferrari initially believed they could mount a serious challenge for both titles. Team principal Fred Vasseur had expressed confidence that Ferrari’s strong finish in 2024—just 14 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings—would provide a springboard for a title fight in 2025. However, as the early months of the season unfolded, Vasseur recognized the gap that had opened up over the winter and decided to halt development on the 2025 car by April, effectively conceding that Ferrari’s hopes for the year were limited.
Lewis Hamilton, starting his first full season with Ferrari in 2025, initially stated that the team had “every ingredient” to aim for a championship. However, he soon realized that Ferrari needed significant improvements in multiple areas. The outcome was a highly disappointing season for the Briton, marking the first time in his illustrious career that he failed to finish on the podium in any Grand Prix.
Ferrari unveils innovative gearbox design for 2026
With 2025 behind them, Ferrari has turned its attention to learning from past mistakes and optimizing their car for the 2026 regulations. One major technical change involves the suspension: Ferrari will return to a push-rod layout on both the front and rear axles in 2026, after struggling with persistent ride height problems caused by the SF-25’s pull-rod rear suspension.
In addition, Italian motorsport outlets have reported that Ferrari has revealed intriguing information regarding the gearbox developed to complement their 2026 power unit. According to these reports, the Scuderia has invested significant resources into designing an exceptionally compact gearbox. The new unit is expected to provide two major advantages in a critical area of the 2026 car.
Firstly, a smaller gearbox will reduce overall weight, which can improve the car’s agility and responsiveness. More importantly, the compact design will allow Ferrari to create a tighter rear-end profile, enhancing the car’s aerodynamic efficiency. This streamlined silhouette is intended to optimize airflow over the rear diffuser, a component that will regain increased importance under the 2026 technical regulations after the ground-effect era emphasized the role of venturi tunnels along the car floor.
How Ferrari’s new gearbox could benefit Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
The 2026 F1 rules are widely expected to favor a driving style that suits Lewis Hamilton’s strengths. During the 2022–2025 ground-effect era, Hamilton struggled to fully adapt to the new aerodynamic demands, which required a departure from his preferred approach of late braking and carrying maximum speed through corners. By contrast, the 2026 regulations should allow Hamilton to exploit his natural driving style more effectively.
For Charles Leclerc, the tighter rear-end design enabled by Ferrari’s compact gearbox could also provide a crucial performance boost. A cleaner airflow over the rear diffuser may translate into improved traction and stability in high-speed corners, helping both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton extract maximum performance from the car under the 2026 ruleset.
Lewis Hamilton will be eager to bounce back after a difficult 2025 Formula 1 campaign, in which he failed to achieve a single podium finish and amassed only 156 championship points. Ferrari’s technical focus on a compact gearbox, optimized suspension, and refined aerodynamics is clearly aimed at restoring the Scuderia’s competitiveness and providing both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with a genuine chance to challenge for the 2026 F1 world titles.
Ultimately, Ferrari’s shift in priorities highlights the team’s determination to build a car that combines innovative engineering, aerodynamic efficiency, and driver-friendly characteristics, giving Lewis Hamilton the platform to return to form and Charles Leclerc the machinery needed to fight at the front of the grid. With lessons learned from 2025, Ferrari is betting that a meticulously designed car for the 2026 regulations can finally deliver a championship-worthy performance for its star drivers.
Jan 10, 2026Luca Marini
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