F1 | Ferrari, what if the problem were the fans? The statement that sparks debate

Enthusiasm around Ferrari has grown significantly in recent weeks, fuelled by the first outings of the SF-26 and the positive impressions gathered between Fiorano and Barcelona. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have logged valuable mileage and collected crucial data, with the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion even setting the outright fastest time during the collective shakedown. It is a start that has strengthened the belief that Ferrari could be ready to fight at the front of the grid once again.

Adding to the sense of confidence were Lewis Hamilton’s own words, as he openly spoke about a team driven by a winning mentality like never before. “Everyone is extremely focused. I feel a winning mentality in every single person in the team, more than ever. It’s something very positive. There’s enthusiasm and great energy,” the British driver explained after the first tests.

Brundle’s warning about Ferrari fans

According to Alex Brundle, however, pre-season optimism is nothing new at Ferrari, and in the past it has often failed to withstand the intense pressure of a full championship campaign. For the British commentator, the issue is not a lack of technical capability, but rather a philosophy deeply rooted in the very history of the Scuderia.

“I genuinely think this is a problem Ferrari has,” Alex Brundle said. “The fans would never allow Ferrari to do anything other than present itself as the absolute favourite.”

In Alex Brundle’s view, the identity of the brand itself makes it almost impossible to lower expectations. “If you look at Ferrari’s history and how that brand was born, it’s all based on win or nothing. We go racing, and occasionally we sell a car if in the morning we realise the V8 warehouse is empty,” he added. “That’s how it was created. One person with a total obsession for racing. Admitting you’re not aiming to win the World Championship is not part of Ferrari’s vocabulary.”

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Maranello was one of the most sensational transfers in modern Formula 1 history. The idea that he could write a new chapter in Ferrari’s legendary story was compelling. The reality of 2025, however, turned out to be very different.

The regulation cycle that hurt Hamilton and Ferrari

Hamilton finished the season without a single race podium, an unprecedented outcome in his illustrious career. For Brundle, though, it is not simply a case of a driver past his peak.

“There are several factors,” he explained. “There’s a famous phrase in motorsport, I think from Ron Dennis, that past performance guarantees nothing for the future.”

According to Alex Brundle, every Grand Prix represents a fresh start, and Formula 1 offers no discounts to anyone, regardless of past achievements. He then analysed in greater detail the difficulties Hamilton encountered.

“This regulation cycle, and Ferrari as well, have not been ideal for Lewis,” Alex Brundle said. “He likes to grab the car by the scruff of the neck, to feel the rear moving underneath him. The previously introduced rules did not suit his natural driving style.”

To that, Brundle added what he sees as a certain internal rigidity within the team structure.

“There is a certain inertia in the way Ferrari works, in its processes and its set-up mentality,” he continued. “Even with enormous respect for Lewis, who is one of the biggest transfers of all time, he had to overcome that inertia, coming from an environment like Mercedes where he had enjoyed extraordinary success.”

With the end of the ground-effect era, however, a new opportunity may arise. “With the end of the ground-effect era, Lewis has a great opportunity,” Brundle explained. “If the Ferrari engine is competitive, he can help bring Ferrari back to life. He has a highly developed technical mind and extraordinary sensitivity when it comes to what a single-seater needs.”

For Brundle, therefore, Lewis Hamilton remains one of the strongest assets heading into the new regulatory cycle. “He has the same chances as anyone else in this new era,” he concluded. “But everything will depend on how well Ferrari can turn enthusiasm and ambition into concrete results.”

As the SF-26 prepares for the first lights out of the season, the balance between historical passion and modern performance remains Ferrari’s greatest challenge. Whether Lewis Hamilton can cut through the internal inertia and the weight of the Tifosi’s dreams to secure a title in this new era of racing is the question that will define the 2026 Formula 1 championship.