Ferrari has re-established itself as a race-winning force during the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Lewis Hamilton delivering the Scuderia’s long-awaited return to the top step of the podium and Charles Leclerc continuing to play a key role in the team’s resurgence. Even so, the Maranello squad remains under intense scrutiny as it attempts to end one of the longest championship droughts in its modern history.
Although Ferrari has shown encouraging signs with the SF-26 and introduced an aggressive development programme throughout the campaign, former Formula 1 commercial chief Bernie Ecclestone is not convinced that technical progress alone will be enough to return the team to championship-winning form. Speaking during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, the veteran motorsport figure argued that Ferrari’s biggest obstacle is not its car, engine or aerodynamic package, but the way the organisation is structured behind the scenes.
Bernie Ecclestone questions Ferrari’s internal organisation
During an interview with Formule1.nl, Bernie Ecclestone shared his view that Ferrari’s prolonged title drought is largely the result of how decisions are made within the organisation. Rather than pointing to technical shortcomings, he suggested that the team suffers from having too many influential voices involved in the decision-making process.
According to Bernie Ecclestone, Ferrari would benefit from a clearer leadership structure with greater authority concentrated in the hands of a single decision-maker. He argued that too many people are involved in determining what can and cannot be done, making it more difficult for the team to operate with the speed and clarity required to compete consistently for Formula 1 world championships. While acknowledging that the Maranello team appears to have made progress in recent seasons, he believes only future results will confirm whether those internal issues have truly been resolved.
Ferrari has made progress, but the biggest prize remains elusive
There is little doubt that Ferrari has taken significant steps forward compared to previous seasons. The arrival of Lewis Hamilton has strengthened the team’s experience, while continued development of the SF-26 has allowed the Italian side to return to race-winning form and re-enter the championship conversation.
However, recent weekends have also demonstrated that the Scuderia still lacks the consistency needed to compete regularly against Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren. While victories like the one achieved in Barcelona have highlighted Ferrari’s potential, difficult races like the Austrian Grand Prix have exposed how narrow the operating window of the SF-26 can still be.
That inconsistency remains one of Ferrari’s greatest challenges. Championship campaigns are rarely decided by spectacular victories alone; they are usually won by teams capable of extracting strong results across a wide range of circuits and conditions. Ferrari is still working towards achieving that level of sustained competitiveness.
A championship drought that continues to define Ferrari
Ferrari’s history is filled with success, but the statistics also underline how long the current wait has become. The Scuderia has not won the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship since 2008, while its most recent Drivers’ Championship came one year earlier when Kimi Räikkönen secured the 2007 world title.
Despite the team’s recent progress, that prolonged drought continues to shape expectations around every new Maranello project. Each improvement to the SF-26 is viewed through the lens of whether it can finally return the Scuderia to championship-winning status.
Bernie Ecclestone’s comments add another perspective to the debate surrounding Ferrari’s future. While many observers focus on engine performance, aerodynamics or race strategy, the former Formula 1 chief believes organisational structure could be just as important. Whether that assessment proves correct remains to be seen, but Ferrari now faces the challenge of translating its renewed competitiveness into the consistency required to finally end a title drought that has lasted for nearly two decades.
With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc leading Ferrari’s charge and further upgrades expected during the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Scuderia has an opportunity to prove that its recent revival is more than a temporary resurgence. The coming races will reveal whether Ferrari has truly built the foundations needed to return to the very top of Formula 1 or whether the championship wait will continue.
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