Domenicali Urges Ferrari to Set Clear Direction After 2025 Slump

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali has stressed the need for Scuderia Ferrari to operate with a clear and coherent plan following a deeply disappointing 2025 season.

Ferrari endured a winless campaign last year, finishing fourth in the constructors’ standings and trailing champions McLaren by a substantial 435 points. The result represented a sharp regression from 2024, when Ferrari missed out on the constructors’ title by just 14 points, their closest challenge since 2008.

On an individual level, Charles Leclerc managed to salvage parts of Ferrari’s season with seven podium finishes. In contrast, the high-profile arrival of Lewis Hamilton failed to deliver immediate results, as the seven-time world champion completed a full Formula 1 season without a single podium for the first time in his 19-year career.

Facing those difficulties, Ferrari made an early strategic decision to halt aerodynamic development of the SF-25 at the end of April, redirecting resources toward the 2026 regulations. The upcoming ruleset is widely regarded as the most extensive technical overhaul in Formula 1 history, presenting teams with a rare opportunity to reset competitive hierarchies.

Domenicali, who previously led Ferrari as team principal between 2008 and 2014, believes that the Italian team’s response must be built on clarity rather than negativity.

“I’m a positive guy,” Domenicali said in an interview with Sky Sports News.
“There’s no need to cry, there’s no need always to be negative. They need to have a plan.”

He expressed confidence that Ferrari’s current leadership group is aligned around a defined direction, citing team principal Fred Vasseur alongside its driver pairing.

“I’m sure Fred, Lewis and Charles have a plan, and that’s what is important,” Domenicali added.
“It’s important to react, not to fade away, as if being fourth in the championship is something normal.”

According to Domenicali, Ferrari’s competitiveness holds significance beyond the team itself, given its historical and commercial weight within Formula 1.

“We want to have a strong Ferrari, and they deserve to be in a stronger position,” he said.
“They need to make sure there is the right energy and the right direction, because for this year everyone is talking, but nobody really knows where we stand.”

Domenicali also pointed to the broader context of 2025 as evidence of how early focus on new regulations can shape short-term performance while influencing long-term outcomes.

“If you look at what happened last year, everyone already knew what was coming with the new rules,” he concluded.
“So stay tuned, because at every race there will be evolution.”

Overall, Domenicali’s comments underline that Ferrari’s recovery will not hinge on immediate results alone, but on disciplined execution and a consistent vision as Formula 1 approaches its next era. With the 2026 regulations looming, scrutiny over whether Ferrari truly has a plan in place is only set to intensify.

Do you believe Ferrari’s early shift of focus toward the new regulations was the right call, or has it left the team vulnerable in the short term? Share your view in the comments section.