Doubts over driver synergy and development direction
Ferrari’s 2025 campaign has prompted pointed debate about its trajectory and development process. Former F1 driver Derek Daly argues the Scuderia’s current pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are too similar in approach, suggesting both are "instant reflex" racers rather than complementary profiles that balance raw speed with feel-driven feedback. In Daly’s view, that blend is often crucial to guide engineers toward a consistently faster car.
Ferrari has yet to take a race win this season, and Hamilton has not stood on the podium across 18 grands prix so far. Daly contends the team is in the most trouble of any on the grid and goes as far as to suggest Hamilton’s arrival looks more like a marketing move than a pure racing decision. He also warns that, in his opinion, the situation is unlikely to change next year.
Leadership speculation and cultural reset
Against this backdrop, ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert added fuel to the debate by declaring that Ferrari’s "prime target" should be Red Bull boss Christian Horner. The remark underscores a wider narrative: beyond drivers and car performance, Ferrari’s challenge may also be about culture, structure and leadership as it seeks a return to sustained dominance.
"We have to win": Ferrari’s corporate message is unambiguous
From the top, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna has reaffirmed the marque’s commitment to end its title drought, stating "we have to win" while setting out economic targets on Capital Markets Day. The team remains F1’s most decorated outfit historically, but its last constructors’ crown dates back to 2008, and its last drivers’ title was Kimi Raikkonen’s in 2007. The mandate from the boardroom is clear; the route to achieving it, amid questions about feedback loops and leadership architecture, is the central challenge.
Whether through recalibrating technical processes, sharpening development feedback, or pursuing heavyweight leadership figures, Ferrari’s 2026 reset and the seasons around it will be judged by a single metric: winning again.
