Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes some teams may upgrade their cars just once in 2025 before shifting their focus entirely to the new regulations in 2026.
With anticipation building for what is expected to be a tightly contested season, several teams—including Williams, Haas, and McLaren—have already put their new cars on track.
Even McLaren, a title contender, has produced a 2025 car that closely resembles the one that secured them the constructors' championship last year. Williams team principal James Vowles also acknowledged that their new car, which debuted at Silverstone in an interim livery, is "obviously an evolution of last year's car."
Vowles made it clear that Williams' primary focus is already on preparing for the 2026 rule changes.
"I've made it clear to Carlos (Sainz) and Alex Albon that 2025 will be difficult," he admitted. "We have to compromise this year.
"Of course we don't want to finish tenth in the world championship, but if I have to accept restrictions in the coming season so that we are better positioned for 2026, I'll accept that.
"Our entire focus is already on 2026, 2027 and 2028."
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, however, insists that his team remains fully committed to fighting for both titles in 2025.
"There will definitely be upgrades in the first races of the new season," Stella said.
"It will work just as if the rule change in 2026 wasn't coming."
Vasseur, however, believes teams will carefully evaluate their positions after the early development phase before deciding how much to invest in their 2025 cars.
"The teams will take stock after the first development round," he explained.
"If you see a chance of winning the world championship, you will continue to look after the current car. Nobody throws away a title voluntarily.
"But if you're too far behind, you will withdraw from the development of the 2025 car a lot sooner and work full speed towards 2026."
