Ferrari will soon stop SF-25 development to concentrate fully on Project 678 for F1’s 2026 overhaul

Ferrari are on the brink of making a major shift in strategy as they prepare to end development of their troubled 2025 car and turn full focus to the 2026 season, granting Lewis Hamilton a request he hinted at just weeks ago.

According to reports from Italian outlet Auto Racer, the Scuderia plan to halt work on their SF-25 later this month. Internal operations on the current car are said to be “close to ending,” allowing the team to pour all wind tunnel resources into next year’s Project 678.

Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this year after a historic run with Mercedes, recently made clear his desire to begin focusing on the team’s long-term future. Speaking during the Spanish Grand Prix, he admitted: “Before too soon I will just be saying: ‘Let’s focus on next year.’” He stressed the importance of using this season to lay the foundation for 2026, when sweeping regulation changes will shake up Formula 1.

Ferrari had entered 2025 with high hopes of finally ending their title drought. They overhauled the SF-25’s design, adopting pullrod front suspension similar to McLaren and Red Bull. But the gamble has failed. After nine rounds, Ferrari trail McLaren by a massive 197 points. Only Charles Leclerc has secured podium finishes, delivering top-three results in Saudi Arabia, Monaco, and Spain.

Since the start of the season, Ferrari have battled chronic ride-height issues that forced them to run the SF-25 higher than intended to avoid excessive wear to the skid blocks. This problem notably cost Hamilton dearly in China, where he was disqualified from the main race just a day after winning the sprint.

To address the problem, Ferrari have developed a significant rear suspension upgrade aimed at stabilising ride height. The solution, having passed crucial tests at Maranello, is expected to debut at Silverstone for Hamilton’s home race next month. However, this upgrade will likely mark one of the last major updates for the SF-25.

Team-mate Charles Leclerc acknowledged Barcelona as a critical decision point for Ferrari’s management. Speaking candidly, he said: “We definitely don’t want to give up now. It’s still kind of early. We’re getting to mid-season soon, but we cannot afford to give up now.” Yet he conceded that team principal Fred Vasseur would ultimately decide when to shift full resources to 2026.

The upcoming regulations for F1 2026 represent one of the sport’s most dramatic overhauls. Both the chassis and power units will undergo significant redesigns. The new engines will run on fully sustainable fuels with 50% electrification, while active aerodynamics will also debut.

Behind the scenes, several engine manufacturers have reportedly faced major challenges adapting to the 2026 power unit regulations. According to reports from Bahrain in April, only one manufacturer is believed to be fully on track, while others are struggling — some significantly. One manufacturer is rumoured to have chosen an alternative biofuel strategy, leaving it uncompetitive compared to rivals pursuing synthetic fuels.

Hamilton’s former team Mercedes, who dominated the last major regulatory shift in 2014, are widely seen as the best prepared. They will supply power units to McLaren, Alpine, Williams and their own factory team under the new formula.

As Ferrari pivot fully towards Project 678, Hamilton’s influence on the team’s future direction is becoming increasingly visible. While 2025 may not deliver the championship glory Ferrari had hoped for, the team are now betting everything on getting it right for 2026 — with Hamilton at the centre of their bold new plan.