What can Ferrari fans expect from the Italian team in the next Formula 1 season? According to former driver Derek Daly, the Maranello squad may not manage to solve the problems that emerged this year, raising concerns among supporters.
After 18 races in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari has yet to secure a single victory. In the most recent Grand Prix events, compounded by brake issues, the team even lost second place in the Constructors’ Championship to Mercedes, who have managed to reverse their performance trend. Derek Daly, speaking exclusively to Racingnews365, highlighted that Ferrari could face difficulties in escaping this challenging situation for a simple reason, which he explained in detail.
Too much similarity within the team
Daly identified the biggest problem for Ferrari, which prevented the team from realistically contending for both World Championships as seemed possible before the season began, as stemming from their two drivers: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. According to the former F1 driver, a team competing in the pinnacle of motorsport should ideally have two drivers with contrasting skill sets.
Daly stated: “In my opinion, every top-level team has two drivers with opposite skills. One has lightning-fast reflexes, capable of extracting the maximum from any car in any condition. The other is a sensitive driver, able to read the car, provide feedback to the engineers, and contribute to development. One pushes the other. Right now, Ferrari has two drivers with instant reflexes. I don’t believe either of them is giving the engineers the necessary information to build a faster car, and I don’t think that will change next year.”
The choice of Lewis Hamilton
Despite the upcoming 2026 regulation changes, which could reshuffle the competitive order, Daly believes the situation at Maranello could remain similar to this season: “Ferrari is in trouble more than any other team. I don’t think they will make the necessary moves to fix their problems.”
During the interview, the former driver also reiterated his opinion on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. For many, the arrival of the seven-time World Champion signaled the merging of two winning motorsport legacies, aiming to return the team to the top. However, for Daly, the reason was different: “There comes a point for every athlete when reflexes and instincts are no longer what they were 15 years ago. Those times are over, even for Ferrari. Bringing Lewis Hamilton to Maranello was, in my view, a marketing decision, not a sporting choice.”
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