Ferrari has decided to take a different path from its competitors for next year. The new regulations allow for several alternatives, but the Italian team is the only one that has opted for something different. It’s a gamble that, if it pays off, could take them to the top, but if it goes wrong, as most of their competitors believe, it could weigh them down, and not just for next season.
Ferrari, an alternative fuel
The key to the new regulations is that the FIA has left the door open for teams to choose different components as long as they comply with the rules. In this regard, Ferrari has decided that its new cars will use V-Power Advanced Sustainable Race Fuel, a Shell fuel made from urban waste and non-food biomass. It is a risky decision, given that the other teams have opted for synthetic fuels known as e-fuels.
According to initial analyses, most teams had ruled out fuels made from urban waste and non-food biomass because they were less competitive. However, Ferrari has opted for them, setting itself apart from the rest and raising many questions and doubts. What have they seen that the others have not been able to see?
David Bunch, Shell’s vice president, has responded to the noise generated and stated that they have full confidence in the performance after the tests carried out. But Ferrari is taking a gamble: barring a comeback never seen before in the history of F1, this year they will continue to extend their worst streak in terms of championships—they have not won the drivers’ championship since 2007 or the constructors’ championship since 2028—and, according to F1 analysts, the option chosen has no prospect of returning Ferrari to the top. But if they get it right and achieve a performance above the rest, they could dominate the next era of F1, although this is hard to believe given the reactions.
Mercedes and Honda, the battle for the best engine
For now, experts point to Mercedes as having the best power unit for next season, an important fact given that this engine will be used by several teams on the grid. Aston Martin will be the only team on the grid to use a Honda engine, the big winners of the last era of F1, with Max Verstappen leading the Red Bull project. It is true that they seemed to be behind schedule, but the Japanese factory is optimistic. The agreement with Aramco and the various tests being carried out are yielding encouraging data for the power unit, with which Aston Martin hopes to make the leap to the top of F1.
There is still more than half of the 2025 season to go, but 2026 began long ago in the factories of the teams and their suppliers. The race between Honda and Mercedes is as decisive as those we will see on the track, and there are many doubts as to who will come out on top next year. But Ferrari is the big unknown: although all the experts point out that the Italians have made a misstep, it is surprising that a team with their experience has opted for a fuel that will not work for them. It’s a risky bet, but an ambitious one at the same time. It’s doing something totally different from the rest, so different results are expected. If they are better, they could dominate F1 from next year onwards, but if they fail, it could spell trouble for a team that is obliged to win but has forgotten how to do so.