Ferrari will now give up on 2025 ‘immediately’ if one imminent upgrade to fix Lewis Hamilton’s ‘problematic’ car fails

Ferrari have not written off the 2025 Formula 1 season yet, despite trailing McLaren by 177 points, but the Scuderia might shift their focus to the 2026 regulations very soon.

F1 teams are having to juggle a major dilemma this year between chasing on-track results to improve their championship positions or targeting early gains ahead of next term’s overhaul of the technical and engine rules. Ferrari are in the first camp, but are ready to change sides.

Scuderia chiefs are ready to join some of their rival teams such as Williams concentrating on the 2026 F1 regulations if an imminent upgrade fails to improve the SF-25. Charles Leclerc is already 82 points behind Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ standings and Lewis Hamilton is 98 shy.

Piastri, his McLaren teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen are also the only drivers with triple-digit point hauls from the first eight rounds of the 2025 F1 season. Ferrari thus feel both F1 championships could soon be out of reach and 2026 should be the priority.

Ferrari will give up on 2025 if their rear suspension upgrade fails to improve the SF-25’s stability

That is according to Auto Action, which reports that Ferrari will move their focus to the 2026 regulations ‘immediately’ and give up on either title in 2025 if their rear suspension upgrade fails. Ferrari hope it can improve the ‘problematic’ interaction with the gearbox of the SF-25.

READ MORE: Most successful drivers at the Austrian GP of all time and at the Red Bull Ring

Ferrari have also marked the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 27-29 as their earliest realistic chance to introduce the new rear suspension to Hamilton and Leclerc’s cars. The Scuderia, ideally, hope that it could be ready for the Canadian Grand Prix on June 13-15.

Engineers in Maranello believe their upgraded pull-rod rear suspension will allow for a more extreme mechanical set-up, which could let them lower the ride height of the SF-25 and find more downforce. The combination of these factors would serve to improve the rear stability.

Hamilton and Leclerc have proven the SF-25’s front end is strong, but Ferrari’s car becomes ‘too nervous’ at the rear from the middle to the exit of corners. So, if their rear suspension upgrade fails, Ferrari will give up on their 2025 title hopes and focus only on the 2026 rules.

Ferrari will start their upgrade plans with front and rear wings at the Spanish Grand Prix

Ferrari marking the Austrian GP as the more realistic round to introduce their upgraded rear suspension leaves Hamilton and Leclerc facing at least two more challenging races, with this week’s Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and then the Canadian GP.

READ MORE: The most successful drivers at the F1 Spanish GP of all time and in Barcelona

The Scuderia also have upgrades coming this weekend, as Ferrari will run new front and rear wings at the Spanish GP. Engineers in Maranello had to create a new front wing to meet the FIA’s new load tests, but they also created a new rear wing amid their pursuit of downforce.

Ferrari have not won the Spanish GP since 2013 when home hero Fernando Alonso claimed the Oviedo native’s second win in Barcelona. Hamilton is the joint-most successful F1 driver all-time at the Spanish GP and alone in Barcelona with six victories, most recently in 2021.