Maurizio Arrivabene: “Never say never” on Ferrari’s Formula 1 title chances
Following Charles Leclerc’s impressive victory at the British Grand Prix, belief in Ferrari’s chances of mounting a late challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 world championship continues to grow. Among those refusing to rule out the Scuderia is former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene, who believes the team has all the ingredients needed to remain in contention.
Although Ferrari still trails Mercedes in both championship standings, the Maranello squad has emerged as one of the strongest teams over recent race weekends. The combination of improved performance, successful upgrades and growing confidence has reignited speculation that Ferrari could still play a significant role in the battle for the titles.
Fred Vasseur remains focused on one race at a time
Despite the enthusiasm generated by Charles Leclerc’s Silverstone triumph, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is determined to keep expectations under control.
Speaking after the race in an interview with Sky, Vasseur was asked whether Ferrari could now be considered a genuine championship contender. The Frenchman immediately played down the discussion, insisting that the team’s focus remains on continuous improvement rather than championship calculations.
“Don’t start with that,” Vasseur smiled. “Tonight we’ll celebrate, then we’ll get back to work with Spa in mind. We’ll take it one race at a time.”
The Ferrari team principal has consistently adopted the same approach throughout the season, refusing to become distracted by championship talk while the team continues developing the SF-26.
Silverstone victory boosts Ferrari’s confidence
Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone was undoubtedly helped by the technical problem that forced Andrea Kimi Antonelli out of contention while leading the race. Even so, Ferrari’s overall performance exceeded expectations on a circuit that many believed would expose the weaknesses of the SF-26.
Silverstone proved particularly demanding under the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations because of the limited electrical energy available over a lap. Despite those challenges, both Ferrari drivers extracted impressive pace from the car, demonstrating that the Scuderia’s recent upgrades have significantly improved its competitiveness across different circuit layouts.
The result reinforced the belief that Ferrari is becoming an increasingly consistent contender at the front of the field rather than relying on isolated opportunities.
Lewis Hamilton closes in while Charles Leclerc gains ground
The latest championship standings also reflect Ferrari’s growing momentum.
Lewis Hamilton now sits just 32 points behind championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Charles Leclerc’s victory at the British Grand Prix has reduced his own deficit to 71 points, keeping both Ferrari drivers mathematically involved in the title fight.
With a substantial portion of the season still to be contested, Ferrari has every reason to continue believing that further progress could put additional pressure on Mercedes during the second half of the campaign.
Maurizio Arrivabene refuses to rule Ferrari out
Asked whether the current Ferrari is capable of fighting for the Formula 1 world championship, former team principal Maurizio Arrivabene delivered an optimistic assessment during his appearance on Race Anatomy.
“The world championship? I’ve always said that titles are decided at the final Grand Prix and even at the final corner. Never say never. I see a united team and very strong drivers.”
Arrivabene’s comments reflect the growing confidence surrounding Ferrari following its recent resurgence. While Mercedes remains the favourite for both championships, Ferrari has demonstrated that it has the pace, the driver line-up and the team spirit needed to remain a serious contender if its current development trajectory continues.
Leave a Reply