Ferrari told to stop looking back and aim higher in 2026 F1, says former boss. F1 2026: former Team Principal confident Ferrari can return to the top.

A former Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal has urged the team to return to the positions that truly matter in the 2026 Formula 1 season, sending a clear message: “There is no need to cry.” After an incredibly difficult 2025 campaign, in which Ferrari failed to secure a single victory, the Prancing Horse must once again fight consistently for wins. According to the former team boss, Ferrari needs to do more, but fans should avoid falling into negativity.

The ongoing drought of world titles has become the dominant topic surrounding Ferrari. The Scuderia has not won a world championship since 2008, something that is widely considered unacceptable for the most successful team in Formula 1 history. Frédéric Vasseur and his staff have been working on the SF-26 since April, with Loïc Serra taking charge of Technical Direction for the first time. The key question, however, remains whether this will be enough to return Ferrari to genuine title contention.

The 2026 regulatory overhaul represents the beginning of a new technical cycle that could either mark a true rebirth or yet another major reset for Maranello. Another concern is the future of Charles Leclerc if the red cars fail to be competitive. Nevertheless, a former Team Principal remains optimistic and believes the Prancing Horse can once again play a leading role.

Domenicali: “We want a strong Ferrari, it deserves to be…”

“I am a positive person. There is no need to cry, there is no need to always be negative. They need a plan. I am sure that Vasseur, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have a plan, and that is what matters. They will react. It cannot be considered normal for Ferrari to finish a championship in fourth place. We want a strong Ferrari, it deserves to be higher up. Everyone is talking about who will start with an advantage over the others in 2026, but the reality is that nobody knows what the competitive order will look like on track. Every race will be an evolution.”

These were the words of the current Formula 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, speaking to Sky Sports UK.

It is worth remembering that when Stefano Domenicali was in charge as Ferrari Team Principal, a drivers’ world championship slipped away at the final race with Fernando Alonso. A costly mistake proved decisive at a moment when the Ferrari driver was actually leading the standings. More recently, Frédéric Vasseur managed to bring Ferrari back into the fight until the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2024 for the Constructors’ Championship, but expectations were not met in the 2025 season.

Now, the Frenchman is also playing for his future in Maranello, with the hope that fans will finally see Ferrari return among the very best teams on the grid. The 2026 season could represent a turning point, not just for the Scuderia’s results, but for the entire direction of the team in Formula 1.