The top teams' big dilemma: Champion in '25 or best in '26?
General
- Ludo van Denderen
A little tip: watch the F1 cars of the ten teams closely over the next three days during testing, as they are bound to look different in Australia in just over two weeks' time. Formula 1 has traditionally been a continuous cat-and-mouse chase, with new innovations and updates all the time meaning teams eek ahead and are then caught right back up. However, the latter could just be different in the 2025 season.
As is common knowledge, teams are treading two paths next season. On the one hand, a part of the team and its mechanics will be focused on getting the results in the here and now. However, another group will be fully focused on the 2026 season when a completely revamped technical regulation is implemented.
During the season, most are going to focus on '26. The big question will then be: when exactly will that happen? Ferrari, for example, has in their minds in advance that, in the summer, the focus will switch entirely to next year's car, as team boss Frederic Vasseur stated to GPblog and others.
He did so, however, with a caveat, because suppose Lewis Hamilton and/or Charles Leclerc are in a fierce battle for the world title? In that case, it could be a dire necessity to maintain focus on the SF-25. For example, Red Bull Racing did so in 2021 until the very last race in Abu Dhabi - even though new technical regulations were set to be introduced a year later.
Vasseur says Ferrari will halt development in September
So Vasseur had his say on when Ferrari would stop the SF-25's development: "But not after September, October, because it makes no sense. But again, even if you have a plan, let's see after a couple of races in the championship where you are. If you are one second behind, it makes no sense to continue to develop. If you are one second above, for instance, you can be focused a little bit on 2026, but I think these two scenarios are not realistic at all."
In any case, Ferrari will introduce most of the updates sooner rather than later. "It means that the first races and the first upgrade that we will bring on the car will be crucial for the season. And for sure, we will bring something in the early stage into the season," Vasseur said, as McLaren also indicated it will come up with updates soon.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!