Several Formula 1 teams, including Haas, will compete in 2025 with cars closely resembling their 2024 designs, according to Haas technical director Andrea De Zordo.
De Zordo, who took over the technical leadership from Simone Resta last year, revealed to Formula Passion that Haas will reuse the same chassis and much of the current bodywork for 2025.
"We would be surprised if other teams didn't take the same route," the Italian said, noting the resource constraints faced by smaller teams.
While top teams like Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull have announced plans for significant upgrades this year, De Zordo explained that smaller teams are taking a more cautious approach.
"The challenge for 2026 is extremely big, and we need to somehow save elsewhere—not only financially but also in terms of our own resources," he confirmed.
The 2026 overhaul of F1 regulations, including radically different chassis and power units, is expected to divert significant focus and funding across the paddock. However, this shift may temporarily hinder competition.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged that the 2026 season might initially see greater performance gaps between teams.
"With new regulations, it is always like that," Domenicali told Autosprint. "I do expect the field to spread out again at first, but then everyone will come together again. The cars are designed for that."
He recalled how predictions of slower cars and wider gaps under the 2022 regulations proved overly pessimistic.
"We then saw the field coming together in recent years," Domenicali said. "In 2026, we'll start again with fresh rules, which means a lot of challenges and lots of things we can work on."
"So I'm not worried. We have to look at the big picture, not individual details. It is normal that there is a conservative approach from the teams, but we have to think big. Yes, problems will certainly arise. But new designers will also join the sport, helped by these technical changes."
Domenicali stressed the importance of focusing on the sport's long-term goals rather than short-term concerns.
"We want to maintain the evolutionary and positive tension for competitors who see our Formula 1 as a development platform for the future," he said.
