“Lack of leadership”: Luca di Montezemolo questions Ferrari’s 2026 F1 title credentials. Luca Cordero di Montezemolo warns that Ferrari’s SF-26 is not yet a championship-winning car.

Chasing Mercedes

The trio of races in Australia, China, and Japan highlighted what had been feared before the season even started: Mercedes is dominating, demonstrating remarkable skill in exploiting the 2026 regulatory revolution. Three consecutive wins are not a coincidence, and there is even speculation that Toto Wolff’s team may not yet be showing its full potential. Ferrari currently sits second in the Constructors’ Championship, 45 points behind their rivals, but Suzuka also saw McLaren returning to the top positions, boosted by their Mercedes power units.

Montezemolo urges Ferrari forward

In his appearance on Radio 1’s program “La politica nel pallone,” Luca Cordero di Montezemolo did not hold back in commenting on Ferrari’s current situation. The former sporting director and president of Maranello does not believe that the Ferrari SF-26 is a car capable of bringing home the championship titles that have been missing since 2007 for drivers and 2008 for constructors.

Leadership under scrutiny

Luca di Montezemolo emphasized the importance of team and company leadership: “Today at Ferrari I see a real lack of leadership, meaning a leader who works in Maranello 24 hours a day. When I speak of leadership, I mean full corporate leadership, both regarding road cars and the Ferrari company as a whole, and also in Formula 1.”

Regarding Ferrari’s current performance, he added: “I have seen a good car in the first three races, reliable, consistent, but it is a car that does not seem capable of winning the World Championship. You need horsepower, energy. It will be fundamental to see the team’s development capabilities.”

Hopes for a strong comeback

The former Ferrari president expressed hope for a significant push from the team: “In Miami, a new championship opens for everyone. There is a month to work, and I hope that Ferrari has the capability and the strength to develop the car. After so many years, it is not enough to win a few races or be thrilled by a podium; you need to win the World Championship, and we hope that development will deliver a top-level car,” Luca di Montezemolo concluded.

Luca di Montezemolo’s words show that for a team with Ferrari’s heritage, “good” is never enough. As the technical battle between Maranello and Brackley intensifies during this spring break, the focus shifts entirely to the wind tunnel and the engine dynos. Whether the SF-26 can find the “energy” Montezemolo demands will likely decide if the 2026 title fight remains a contest or becomes a Mercedes procession.