Ferrari’s 2025 season has been more sinking gondola than roaring prancing horse, yet in the shadows of Maranello’s glossy press releases, work is intensifying on the next big gamble, the 2026 car that could define Lewis Hamilton’s final act in Formula 1. The whisper emerging from behind the factory gates is a curious one. Hamilton’s future machine might feature a redesigned battery pack, a piece of engineering that promises a jolt of performance… but with a sting in the tail.
In 2024, Ferrari missed out on the Constructors’ crown by just 14 points. Logic suggested they would be charging even harder in 2025. Instead, the Scuderia has stumbled backwards, right in the season they welcomed the seven-time world champion with a red carpet and even redder expectations. This backward step has, perhaps, been the slap of reality Ferrari needed before the sweeping rule changes in 2026. But in the here and now, the SF-25 simply isn’t the fearsome predator it should be.
Hamilton flexes his influence
One thing is becoming clearer by the month: Hamilton is not content to be a passenger in the Ferrari project. His contract reportedly gives him increasing sway over race strategy decisions, a privilege he has been eager to exercise. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, it even emerged that the fine print allows him to decide, entirely on his own, whether he wishes to extend his Ferrari stay into 2027.
That revelation was followed by a storm in the paddock when Hamilton appeared to endorse the idea of Ferrari changing its driver line-up to improve results. Whether staged or spontaneous, it stirred up the old Maranello politics, with certain factions already less than enamoured by their new British superstar. Internal whispers suggest a staggering “90%” of Ferrari staff opposed signing him in the first place.
But Hamilton has little time to worry about bruised egos. He has fewer than 12 months to prove them wrong – and more than 750 days have passed since his last pole position. For a man once feared for his single-lap magic, this is a drought that will not sit comfortably.
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The “678” project takes shape
According to Motorsport.com Italy, the heart of Ferrari’s 2026 push is known internally as the “678” project, and at its core lies that new battery pack. The concept is tantalising: a unit with increased energy storage that could deliver more potent deployment over a lap, potentially giving Ferrari the punch it has lacked in critical phases of a race.
The catch? Physics is rarely generous without exacting payment. This new pack is both larger and heavier than the current system, adding weight in a car where every gram is a sworn enemy. That means while the battery could bring explosive bursts of speed, it risks making the car sluggish and unpredictable in certain track conditions. It is the age-old motorsport riddle – raw power versus consistency – dressed up in high-voltage clothing.
Peak versus persistence
The trade-off is particularly delicate under the upcoming 2026 regulations, where efficiency and weight distribution will be more important than ever. If Ferrari leans too far toward peak output, it may find itself with a car that dazzles in qualifying but fades in race trim. On the other hand, playing it too safe risks yet another year of watching the McLarens and Red Bulls dance off into the distance.
Given the stakes, Hamilton’s influence here could prove decisive. A driver with his experience understands the subtleties of car behaviour across an entire season, and Ferrari may be more willing to take risks if their marquee signing believes it will pay off.
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The short-term reality
For now, there is still the small matter of salvaging something from 2025. With ten races left, Ferrari’s realistic target is beating Mercedes to second place in the Constructors’ Championship. It is hardly the champagne-soaked glory the tifosi crave, but it would at least put a little shine on a disappointing campaign.
Recent upgrades suggest that is possible, but the clock is ticking. Teams that delay the full pivot to their 2026 designs risk arriving in January’s winter testing already a lap behind. Ferrari knows this all too well, yet its challenge is more complex than most – balancing immediate respectability with the ambition of finally ending an 18-year title drought.
The decision ahead
Ultimately, the success or failure of the “678” battery could shape not only Ferrari’s fortunes but also Hamilton’s future. If the early signs in 2026 are positive, the Briton could be tempted to stay for 2027, making one last tilt at an eighth world title at the age of 42. But if the gamble backfires, the “678” may become just another chapter in Ferrari’s long list of ‘what could have been’.
The jury, as always, remains out. Is this the kind of bold innovation Ferrari needs to rediscover its glory, or a clever-sounding misstep that will sink the Hamilton project before it ever truly takes off?
Over to you, the jury. Does this sound like Ferrari taking a calculated leap toward greatness, or another example of Maranello being too clever for its own good? Drop your verdict below.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
