Ferrari’s already passed their 2026 crash tests. Brilliant news for the future. Meanwhile, their 2025 car crashes into the barriers of mediocrity every weekend whilst Lewis Hamilton finishes outside the points wondering who won the race. Priorities, eh?
The Scuderia’s become rather good at planning for tomorrow whilst today burns spectacularly. Fred Vasseur admitted they abandoned development of the SF-25 back in April. Seven months of racing a car they’d given up on. No wonder Hamilton’s been having sleepless nights until 6am.
When Your Future Car Works Better Than Your Current One
Ferrari’s 2026 chassis, codenamed Project 678, has already cleared FIA crash tests at the CSI facility in Bollate, Italy. Homologated before the current season’s even finished. That’s actually impressive efficiency from a team that usually specialises in strategic chaos and inexplicable tyre choices.
The new monocoque passed frontal and side impact tests designed for the completely revised 2026 regulations. Different safety standards. New structural requirements. All sorted before December ends. When Ferrari focuses on something, they apparently deliver. Just not on Sundays, obviously.
This early homologation gives Maranello a proper head start on next year’s development. Whilst rivals scramble to pass crash tests in January, Ferrari can crack on with actually making the thing fast. Revolutionary concept: build the car early so you can develop it properly.
The Philip Morris Deal Nobody Asked About
Ferrari also announced they’re extending their partnership with Philip Morris International. Because nothing says “modern F1” quite like maintaining a half-century relationship with Big Tobacco, even if you can’t actually advertise cigarettes anymore.
The ZYN brand will appear on Ferrari’s livery at selected races, including this weekend’s Abu Dhabi finale. Tobacco company branding disappeared from F1 officially in 2011 when “Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro” became just “Scuderia Ferrari.” But PMI’s stuck around through various smoke-free alternatives and brand gymnastics.
“Ferrari has always valued partnerships built on innovation, responsibility and a vision oriented toward continuous improvement, with a forward-looking mindset.” – Lorenzo Giorgetti, Chief Racing Revenue Officer at Ferrari
That’s corporate speak for “they pay us obscene amounts of money and we like money.” Fair enough. Racing’s expensive. Someone’s got to fund Hamilton’s salary whilst he delivers 12th place finishes.
2026 Planning vs 2025 Reality
Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Ferrari made the right call abandoning their 2025 car in April. They were going nowhere. Better to write off one season and nail the next regulation change than waste resources flogging a dead horse.
But that doesn’t make watching the current disaster any less painful. Qatar was a particular lowlight. Hamilton finished 12th, puntless again. Charles Leclerc salvaged eighth and four points. Neither driver scored in the sprint. This is what “forward-looking mindset” looks like when you’re living through the present.
The 2026 car will hit the track between January 26-30 at Barcelona for pre-season testing. Five days of closed-door running before anyone sees what Ferrari’s actually built. If they’ve genuinely got a head start on development, those tests could reveal whether sacrificing 2025 was genius or desperation.
When Tomorrow’s Promise Doesn’t Fix Today’s Mess
Ferrari arrives in Abu Dhabi hoping to end their miserable season on something resembling a positive note. Leclerc’s currently fighting for championship position against drivers in slower machinery. Hamilton’s fighting to remember why he left Mercedes for this nightmare.
The cruel irony? By the time their brilliant 2026 car arrives, Hamilton will be 40 years old. He’s already getting demolished by Leclerc now. What makes anyone think adding more complexity and new technical challenges will somehow reverse his fortunes?
But that’s Ferrari’s gamble. Sacrifice the present for the future. Pass crash tests whilst failing race weekends. Build championship-winning machinery for 2026 whilst touring around in 12th during 2025.
Will it work? We’ll find out in January when that shiny new chassis hits Barcelona. Until then, enjoy watching Carlos Sainz score podiums for Williams in machinery half as good as Ferrari’s whilst Hamilton wonders who won the race he just finished.
Perhaps they should have extended their partnership with someone who makes functioning steering wheels instead of nicotine pouches?
