Ferrari has rediscovered a competitive Formula 1 car in 2026, but continues to lose valuable points at decisive moments of race weekends. That is the assessment of veteran Formula 1 journalist and commentator Guido Schittone, who identified what he considers the real weakness of the Maranello team in an exclusive interview with NewsF1: not the SF-26 itself, but the organisation responsible for managing qualifying and races.
According to Guido Schittone, Frédéric Vasseur’s work has brought Ferrari back into contention at the front, but the team still lacks a figure capable of controlling the pit wall with quick and authoritative decisions. In his view, greater sporting clarity could help Ferrari convert more of the SF-26’s potential into results.
Guido Schittone backs Frédéric Vasseur’s technical work at Ferrari
Guido Schittone’s assessment of the Ferrari team principal is considerably more positive than some supporters might expect. He does not question Frédéric Vasseur’s work in building the foundations around the SF-26. On the contrary, Guido Schittone believes Ferrari finally has a car capable of competing with Mercedes and McLaren.
“This year Vasseur has managed to bring Ferrari back where it needed to be. The good car is there this year.”
For Guido Schittone, the technical step compared with the previous season is clear. He believes the SF-26 has important aerodynamic qualities and a concept that can still develop during the closing stages of the championship. Ferrari has also continued to evaluate how work on the current car could contribute to its longer-term programme, with the team believing that developing the SF-26 can still provide value for its 2027 project.
Ferrari is missing a link between the team and the pit wall
This is where Guido Schittone’s main criticism begins. In his view, Ferrari has a high-level technical organisation but lacks a dedicated figure with overall authority over the sporting management of a Grand Prix weekend.
“Ferrari is missing a link between the structure and the pit-wall management of qualifying, the race and the event.”
Guido Schittone is not referring to a technical director or a race engineer. Instead, he describes a person with full authority during competition, capable of making immediate decisions without leaving room for different interpretations.
“You need a sporting reference point who says: either it is white or it is black.”
According to Guido Schittone, that is precisely the role Ferrari is currently missing.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton need clear decisions from Ferrari
Guido Schittone then turned to Ferrari’s management of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. He does not believe the problem lies with either driver, arguing that it is entirely natural for two team-mates to want to finish ahead of one another.
“The driver always wants to be ahead of his team-mate.”
The responsibility, Guido Schittone added, falls on the team when it fails to take a clear position during the race.
“They have been managed badly by the team because there is nobody who says: this is what we are doing now.”
His comments echo the debate surrounding several strategic situations Ferrari has faced during the 2026 season, including moments when Frédéric Vasseur and Ferrari’s team-order decisions came under scrutiny.
The season-long balance between the two drivers can also be followed through the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton F1 head-to-head statistics, covering their qualifying and race comparison within Ferrari.
Guido Schittone points to Toto Wolff and Mercedes
To explain his argument, Guido Schittone used Mercedes as an example. In his view, Toto Wolff represents the type of sporting leadership Ferrari does not currently possess in the same form.
“At a certain point Toto Wolff says: now you move over and let the other one through.”
For Guido Schittone, successful teams make difficult decisions with the championship in mind, even when those calls may be uncomfortable for the drivers involved.
His assessment of Ferrari was much more direct: “At Ferrari I always see an attempt to keep both sides happy.”
That issue becomes even more significant when Ferrari is fighting Mercedes and McLaren for major championship positions. The broader competitive picture can be explored through the ScuderiaFans Ferrari vs F1 Rivals statistics.
Jean Todt is Guido Schittone’s example of sporting authority
Guido Schittone also looked back at Ferrari’s own history, pointing to Jean Todt as an example of a true racing manager. According to the journalist, Jean Todt had the authority to establish clear hierarchies and bring discussions to an immediate end during a race weekend.
“He used to say: this is how it is, full stop. Everybody stays quiet and we move on.”
That, according to Guido Schittone, is the type of figure Ferrari needs alongside Frédéric Vasseur today: someone responsible for the sporting side who can make decisive calls when qualifying sessions or races demand an immediate response.
Guido Schittone believes Ferrari has wasted too many points in 2026
For Guido Schittone, Ferrari’s 2026 season has therefore been positive from a technical perspective but incomplete in terms of results. He believes the SF-26 has been capable of winning or collecting significantly more points on several occasions.
“There have been opportunities where Ferrari could have fought with Mercedes and McLaren and wasted those chances because of poor race management.”
The power-unit issue exists, according to Guido Schittone, but he does not believe it is enough on its own to explain the deficit Ferrari has accumulated in the championship. His interpretation is that organisational execution has also cost the team opportunities when the car was competitive enough to challenge its main rivals.
Guido Schittone wants continuity for Frédéric Vasseur, not another change
The interview also makes Guido Schittone’s position on Frédéric Vasseur’s future clear. He is not calling for Ferrari to make another change at the top of the team.
“Continuing to change is not good. You need stability, you need continuity.”
Instead, Guido Schittone proposes keeping Frédéric Vasseur in charge while adding a highly experienced figure specifically focused on sporting and race management.
In Guido Schittone’s view, that is the missing piece Ferrari needs if it is to turn a competitive Formula 1 car into a team capable of fighting consistently for the World Championship.
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