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Lewis Hamilton facing four-month window with Ferrari Project 678 on the horizon – report

Ferrari has decided to prioritize the development of their SF-25 car for the 2025 Formula 1 season for at least the first four months, according to a recent report from Italy. This decision comes as the team prepares for the major regulatory changes coming in 2026, which will introduce significant rule adjustments, including 50% electrification, fully sustainable fuels, and active aerodynamics. The 2025 season will be the last year with the current set of regulations, which makes it crucial for teams to balance the development of their current cars while also investing resources into their 2026 models.

The report suggests that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to have a key role in helping Ferrari get off to a strong start in 2025. Teams are faced with the challenge of deciding how to allocate resources between the current season and the 2026 car, which will be influenced by factors such as the F1 budget cap and the aerodynamic research limitations imposed under the sport’s sliding-scale rules.

The sliding scale system for aerodynamic testing, which has been in place since 2021, provides teams with more or fewer opportunities for wind tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) work based on their position in the Constructors’ standings. The team finishing last in the standings gets the most wind tunnel hours, while the champions receive the least, with the aim of enhancing competition among the 10 teams.

For the first half of 2025, Ferrari, who finished second in the 2024 Constructors’ standings, will be allotted a maximum of 900 wind tunnel hours. This is 60 more hours than McLaren, the reigning champions, but 60 fewer than Red Bull, who dropped to third in the standings last year.

Ferrari’s technical director, Loic Serra, has reportedly been proactive in planning for the future by organizing a dedicated team of engineers to work on Project 678, the team’s 2026 car. Although some engineers are already focused on this long-term project, the immediate priority remains the SF-25 for the upcoming season. Ferrari’s engineering staff has been working to introduce several new concepts to the SF-25, including a pullrod front suspension design that has been successfully used by both Red Bull and McLaren. This innovation is a key part of Ferrari’s approach to make the most out of the SF-25 car for the first few months of the 2025 season before the pressure to shift focus toward the 2026 car increases.

In conclusion, Ferrari’s strategy emphasizes both immediate performance in the 2025 season and long-term planning for the upcoming regulation changes in 2026. By carefully managing resources and prioritizing development, Ferrari aims to balance their current competitive efforts with the preparations needed for the next chapt

er in F1.