2026 Scuderia Ferrari HP F1 Team

[LM10]

"For us, there were a few corners in which we struggled, but it was actually giving us a bit of a boost down the straight because we were off throttle through the corners and charging a bit more,” he explained.

https://f1i.com/news/561452-lawson-hail ... oubts.html

It's showing why Ferrari's focus on cornering might not be necessary in this formula and why drivers are not benefitting from pushing the limits in the corners. They charge less when they do that.


There was a graphic shown somewhere on social media that showed that Ferrari was having to slow down a lot more in the corners of China in race trim just to charge the battery. So in the end Mercedes was showing higher corner speeds simply because they are more efficient harvesting, so they don't have to slow down so much in the corners.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDegO-DWcAA ... name=large

This is just sad.

I’ve never had any problems with any rule changes until now, always giving it time and seeing the positives. But this time I just struggle to do that. Having to slow down in the corner on purpose goes against the laws of F1. Seems like even the teams still don’t want to accept it when it needs a driver error for them to find out that it made their lap faster.

[f1isgood]

Such a terrible formula. We will see no difference between the truly quick ones and the ones that simply obey instructions. The quickest drivers will no longer bother pushing that extra bit risking to bin it to put it on pole. They just need to follow instructions and easy P1. Ridiculous formula. But hey that's what the "engine makers" wanted to buy in.

It's almost detrimental to have cars with different strengths now. All cars have to be low drag as the tradeoff is better with less downforce. Ferrari might have the best chassis by a margin but it's useless in this formula.

[dia6olo]

It’s interesting to see the latest debacle at Aston Martin and think about how it relates to Newey/his decision not to join Ferrari (for the umpteenth time).

Putting aside the geographical aspect (“having” to move to Italy - as if that’s a downgrade from beautiful, sunny England…), the biggest reason Newey didn’t join Ferrari was lack of total autonomy. That’s the thing he always thought he wanted (throughout Williams and McLaren tenured in particular) and AM finally gave it to him, first as a managing partner and then even extending to include team principal. Seems like a case of “careful what you wish for”, no? All of the decision making Newey thought he wanted arguably distracted from what he does best.

I would suggest that what he really wanted was to be listened to on key decisions (which arguably Horner did a good job of for a long time) not actually have the responsibility for making them. Fred might well have been the perfect partner - someone supportive who would listen and value Newey while dealing with all the crap he didn’t want to (a Jean Todt type). Maybe it’ll all come good in the end but I can’t help but feel as if a successful stint at Ferrari would have been the perfect end to an amazing career and an environment which includes way more of the foundational tools to actually make that happen.

Too early to jump to conclusions on Newey and Aston Martin. In fact based on what the staff are saying, he's a great leader and things are going quiet well outside of the Honda issues. I see them coming on strong mid-year and potentially a threat to Ferrari.

I doubt that is ever going to happen. Not only is the gap to big but they are dealing with a new Honda PU. I have no doubts the PU will come good in time but it isn't going to happen in a few months. I doub't it'll even happen next year & the same applies to the car.
At best Aston get back into the midfield starting next year. I doubt they'll be troubling Ferrari this or next year unless Ferrari take a massive backward step.

[f1316]

It’s interesting to see the latest debacle at Aston Martin and think about how it relates to Newey/his decision not to join Ferrari (for the umpteenth time).

Putting aside the geographical aspect (“having” to move to Italy - as if that’s a downgrade from beautiful, sunny England…), the biggest reason Newey didn’t join Ferrari was lack of total autonomy. That’s the thing he always thought he wanted (throughout Williams and McLaren tenured in particular) and AM finally gave it to him, first as a managing partner and then even extending to include team principal. Seems like a case of “careful what you wish for”, no? All of the decision making Newey thought he wanted arguably distracted from what he does best.

I would suggest that what he really wanted was to be listened to on key decisions (which arguably Horner did a good job of for a long time) not actually have the responsibility for making them. Fred might well have been the perfect partner - someone supportive who would listen and value Newey while dealing with all the crap he didn’t want to (a Jean Todt type). Maybe it’ll all come good in the end but I can’t help but feel as if a successful stint at Ferrari would have been the perfect end to an amazing career and an environment which includes way more of the foundational tools to actually make that happen.

Too early to jump to conclusions on Newey and Aston Martin. In fact based on what the staff are saying, he's a great leader and things are going quiet well outside of the Honda issues. I see them coming on strong mid-year and potentially a threat to Ferrari.

I doubt that is ever going to happen. Not only is the gap to big but they are dealing with a new Honda PU. I have no doubts the PU will come good in time but it isn't going to happen in a few months. I doub't it'll even happen next year & the same applies to the car.
At best Aston get back into the midfield starting next year. I doubt they'll be troubling Ferrari this or next year unless Ferrari take a massive backward step.

Threat to Ferrari this year is absurd - they will have done well to be a regular points scorer by end of year; unless you think Ferrari are going to mess up royally from where they currently are, then that’s just never going to be a 2026 reality.

Obviously I do agree that it’s too soon to say one way or the other if the Aston move will work out for Newey - despite what they hoped, some of the pieces came together too late for this year and it was always more likely to be a long term project - but I also think Newey has found that getting everything you thought you wanted doesn’t come free. With great autonomy comes ultimate responsibility and he’s always been best when focused on the technical aspects.

[Emag]

What's happening with Honda at Aston Martin is almost the same as what happened with them at McLaren 10 years ago. Even if they fix the vibration issues, they are so far away in PU performance, there's literally nothing Aston can do to even bring themselves into contention. They're at Honda's mercy and if the past is any indication, that engine will not get anywhere near the level it needs to be to perform at the top within this season. Judging by how bad the situation is, I have my doubts for next year as well actually.

I don't know what expectations you people have of Ferrari, but there's no way Aston becomes a threat for them at any point this season.

[PlatinumZealot]

What's happening with Honda at Aston Martin is almost the same as what happened with them at McLaren 10 years ago. Even if they fix the vibration issues, they are so far away in PU performance, there's literally nothing Aston can do to even bring themselves into contention. They're at Honda's mercy and if the past is any indication, that engine will not get anywhere near the level it needs to be to perform at the top within this season. Judging by how bad the situation is, I have my doubts for next year as well actually.

I don't know what expectations you people have of Ferrari, but there's no way Aston becomes a threat for them at any point this season.

The full load combustion part of the PU doesn't seem bad. It looks decent if you go by Alonso's starts. The whole entire system could be fixed to a decent level after summer break is my bet.

[PDR]

From what I see until now, further to battery harvesting and energy deployment, Ferrari must improve aerodynamic efficiency without losing downforce. This is something that could help also energy management

[dans79]

It's showing why Ferrari's focus on cornering might not be necessary in this formula and why drivers are not benefitting from pushing the limits in the corners. They charge less when they do that.

Maybe not lap after lap, but being able to push in the corners is always beneficial. It lets you get overtakes done in unexpected places, or set them up for later in the lap. For example Lewis had 2 or 3 overtakes at turn 9 in China.

[brakeboosted]

"For us, there were a few corners in which we struggled, but it was actually giving us a bit of a boost down the straight because we were off throttle through the corners and charging a bit more,” he explained.

https://f1i.com/news/561452-lawson-hail ... oubts.html

It's showing why Ferrari's focus on cornering might not be necessary in this formula and why drivers are not benefitting from pushing the limits in the corners. They charge less when they do that.


There was a graphic shown somewhere on social media that showed that Ferrari was having to slow down a lot more in the corners of China in race trim just to charge the battery. So in the end Mercedes was showing higher corner speeds simply because they are more efficient harvesting, so they don't have to slow down so much in the corners.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDegO-DWcAA ... name=large

There's no inherent lopsided focus on cornering from Ferrari. The power unit simply is not up to scratch with Mercedes. They've built a great chassis and are being let down by the engine.

It is necessary and evidenced by the fact that there are many cars on the grid with a superior power unit not up to par with Ferrari. Eventually when the variables on the PU converge that is what will be the deciding factor.

[dia6olo]

"For us, there were a few corners in which we struggled, but it was actually giving us a bit of a boost down the straight because we were off throttle through the corners and charging a bit more,” he explained.

https://f1i.com/news/561452-lawson-hail ... oubts.html

It's showing why Ferrari's focus on cornering might not be necessary in this formula and why drivers are not benefitting from pushing the limits in the corners. They charge less when they do that.


There was a graphic shown somewhere on social media that showed that Ferrari was having to slow down a lot more in the corners of China in race trim just to charge the battery. So in the end Mercedes was showing higher corner speeds simply because they are more efficient harvesting, so they don't have to slow down so much in the corners.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDegO-DWcAA ... name=large

There's no inherent lopsided focus on cornering from Ferrari. The power unit simply is not up to scratch with Mercedes. They've built a great chassis and are being let down by the engine.

It is necessary and evidenced by the fact that there are many cars on the grid with a superior power unit not up to par with Ferrari. Eventually when the variables on the PU converge that is what will be the deciding factor.

Pretty much this! It's clear that currently any gains made up in corners counts for nothing if up against a car with a superior PU that claws it all back & some on the straights.
However, it will count going forward, the PU advantage won't be there forever.
Between the teams working on better PU's coupled with the likelyhood of the FIA tweaking the rules (I can't see them being happy with a Mercedes 1-2 every weekend), the PU's will eventually be a lot closer and a cars cornering ability will very much matter then...

[Waz]

The answer is definitely not to be slower through the corners. It will be looking at how to keep that advantage and still increase the regen.

[brakeboosted]

The answer is definitely not to be slower through the corners. It will be looking at how to keep that advantage and still increase the regen.

I think the correct way to describe what is happening is, not exploiting the corners as much as they can given the potential in the chassis.

Some of it is inherent to the regulations, some of it seems to be in software limitations. I say software limitations because there has been instances where they certainly aren't using enough additional energy in one corner to warrant a 10-12 kph drop in top speed on the subsequent straight. Especially when there is recovery opportunities ahead of that straight. So some of it seems to be a logic issue as much as it is ineherent to the energy constraints.

Hopefully there's a fix to mitigate the problems, because it goes against everything a driver is supposed to do.

[FDD]

Interesting:
"Formula E founder Alejandro Agag says Toto Wolff is the "main force" behind F1's new electric-heavy engine rules.
Agag suggests Wolff used Mercedes' Formula E knowledge to shape regulations that BENEFIT his team.
Fueling criticism from drivers that F1 is becoming too similar to Formula E."

Most probably MERC has more efficient hybrid part and a way better optimized software, cause of 2 years knowledge/experience from Formula E and according to this speculation gain from impact on regulations shaping.
Since FER ICE is transitional one the first thing for update is the ICE and in the meantime learning how to optimized the software better.
New ICE should bring more power needed on the straights after the electrical deployment is finished and more power for harvesting.

[Waz]

It's obvious that Mercedes has a MUCH better hybrid system. Their deployment is seriously advanced compared to the rest of the grid. Almost like they are in Year 2, while the others figure it out.

If Toto spotted the FE advantage, then fair play.

[AnotherAlex]

If Toto spotted the FE advantage, then fair play.

Of course every team principal tries to shape the regulations to suit their team, but the FIA do appear to have allowed themselves to be manoeuvred into making a number of poor decisions (blocking front axle regen and an excessive reliance on electrical power, not to mention the compression ratio farce) that only seem to benefit Mercedes.