Ferrari left Interlagos with the bitterness of a double retirement, an occurrence that has become familiar this season, having already happened in the Netherlands. This also marks the third double zero for the team, considering the embarrassing disqualification of both SF-25 cars in China. In Maranello, criticism inevitably weighs heavily after each setback, although this is hardly surprising. Being the most prominent but least victorious team among the top contenders over the last 20 years magnifies every mistake and fuels ongoing debate.
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc rightly looks around
In this tense atmosphere, completely misplaced remarks from Ferrari president John Elkann about the team’s two drivers have emerged. The words of Maranello’s number one have only drawn more attention to the internal fragility of the Scuderia, a situation that could easily extend into 2026. In this context, the stability of the driver line-up appears far from guaranteed.
Charles Leclerc is one of the most loyal drivers in Formula 1, but his patience seems to have reached its limit. The Monegasque observes how Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have already fought or are currently fighting for a World Championship. While his performance has never been questioned, what has always been missing is a truly competitive car, and this situation is no longer acceptable for Charles.
For this reason, the 2026 season represents a decisive crossroads: driver number 16 currently has a three-year contract (expiring in 13 months) with an option in his favor for an additional two seasons, and he is carefully evaluating all scenarios. If Ferrari fails to provide a title-contending car, the possibility of moving elsewhere becomes very real. Loyalty carries weight, but it cannot replace ambition.
The comments from his manager Nicholas Todt in recent weeks have indirectly confirmed this orientation. Winning with Ferrari remains Charles Leclerc’s absolute priority, but not at any cost. The idea of ending his career without a World Championship is no longer something he seems willing to consider, and rightly so. Should a better opportunity arise elsewhere, it would be foolish not to seize it.
Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari’s unfulfilled promises
Lewis Hamilton’s situation is very different but equally delicate. His move to Ferrari had a precise goal: to finish his career with the chance to fight for a title. So far, however, adaptation has been very complicated, and the car, compared to the 2024 version, is on a completely different level, unfortunately in a negative sense.
At 40 years old, the seven-time World Champion cannot afford long-term projects or additional seasons of waiting. He had been promised a winning car and a team capable of supporting him during this transitional phase, but evidently, this has not materialized. Even the extremely unfortunate comments from John Elkann matter, as they reveal an internal division that is entirely unnecessary and harmful.
This situation is also due to Hamilton’s proposals to change the way things are done, including work methods, execution, and more. Some within the team did not appreciate this type of advice. Therefore, any mistake in the development of the 2026 car could have serious repercussions.
A non-competitive Ferrari risks driving away both drivers, forcing the Scuderia into another rebuilding phase, something it has experienced in the past. Against this backdrop, made even more complex by the president’s words, the coming months will be crucial: another failed car would not just be a sporting problem but could trigger a crisis, this time potentially irreparable, in the relationship with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
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