“A broken marriage,” is how Corriere della sera described the relationship between seven times F1 champion, Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team. The dream wedding in Maranello clearly turned sour as throughout the season of 2025, Hamilton attempted to change the way the Scuderia operated.
He repeatedly revealed in media appearances that he had sent in documents for the management to consider, identifying structural reforms from his winning experience at Mercedes together with suggestions on how thewSF-25 should be improved.
Yet for his efforts he was very publicly slammed by the group president of Ferrari, John Elkann – the man who had been keen to bring Hamilton to the iconic red F1 team.
Ferrari criticised for quitting
“Our drivers focus more on driving, and talk less” was the withering blow landed by Elkann after a miserable race weekend in Brazil, where neither Leclerc nor Hamilton finished the Grand Prix. Lewis described the year in Las Vegas as a “nightmare” and as his “worst season ever,” something he felt he had experienced in the twilight of his Mercedes tenure.
This on the back of four consecutive Q1 exits in Las Vegas, Qatar Sprint and the race and in Abu Dhabi. The F1 correspondent for Corriere compares Ferrari’s lack lustre performances with the Reed Bull attitude of never give up, which saw Max Verstappen come from 104 points behind to finish the season just two short of becoming a fifth time world champion.
Ferrari “did the opposite” reports the Italian news outlet, “abandoning the 2025 project almost immediately.” Questions are being asked as to why this happened and whether there was room to develop the car further and whilst the answers will never be truly known, coming soon is the ext season which will “decide the fate for everyone, for better or worse – Vasseur, Leclerc, Hamilton and the engineers.”
Ferrari are in a similar slump to the one they found themselves in before the arrival of Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher. Prior to Schumacher finally claiming the title in 2000 it had been 21 years earlier when Ferrari won their last in 1979 with Jodie Scheckter.
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“Its now or never” ultimatum
Vasseur is reported as saying he doesn’t waste time on pondering who is ahead for 2026 and that its a long season with plenty of time to catch up. Hardly an inspiring thought for he tifosi. It may be that his real meaning was lost somewhat in translation and the Ferrari boss is suggesting the ability to learn quickly will be crucial in F1’s new radical era.
Della Sera pens that ‘the die is already cast’ as the new season begins in less than six weeks with the first behind closed doors test in Barcelona. Charles Leclerc has issued what may be a rallying call, “its now or never” he declared in Abu Dhabi, yet this sounds an awful lot like an ultimatum to the team.
Hamilton has been “a flop” continues Daniele Asparisci, and whilst expectations were that he may be beaten by Leclerc across the course of the season, but not by such a large margin. Relationships between Hamilton and the team are said to have never taken off and now even his rapport with the top brass “has cooled.”
Leclerc’s “now or never” comments are believed to mean he will give Ferrari one more year of his career, taking the time with the Scuderia to eight long seasons. The Monegasque driver is clearly quick, given the 26 pole positions he has claimed since joining Ferrari.
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Bearman the future for the Scuderia
Yet Charles is being repeatedly linked with Aston Martin for 2027 who have promised their sponsors and partners a top driver for that season. Adrian Newey is leaving no stone unturned in revolutionising the organisation of the Silverstone based team and Asparisci observes the team have “spent billions on infrastructure and brains” and their new found works team status with the Honda power trains will propel the team even further towards the front of the grid.
Having almost dismissed Hamilton from the future of Ferrari, La Gazette prefers to focus on the man they claim will be the next star for the Scuderia – Oliver Bearman. Guilis Toninelli reports Bearman as chomping at the bit. “Driving in red is the goal of my life, it’s what pushes me to give my all and gets me fired up every morning”
“It is fantastic that our generation is winning the top teams, as well as Kimi Antonelli with Mercedes. I have to say that I’m also a little jealous of the fact that they can fight there in front, but my time will come too,” spoke the ambitious British driver.
It may be that Ferrari aces the all new and highly complex 2026 regulations and as Asparsci notes after “6 or 7 Grand Prix, we will have an idea of who will win in the next few years.” If Ferrari are not at the races then heads will roll and quickly, beginning with team boss Fred Vasseur despite his shiny new multi-year contract.
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Ferrari’s fate sealed by 6-7 Grand Prix in 2026
On the whole the Italian media have been kind to Hamilton with the focus of their ire aimed squarely at the Ferrari team itself. No wins and just seven podiums in 2025, together with double disqualifications and double DNF’s is just not good enough for F1’s iconic squad.
Leclerc believes the team’s fate for the next several seasons will be decided relatively quickly. “I think the whole team is hugely motivated for next year, because it’s such a big change, a huge opportunity to show what Ferrari is capable of,” he said. “And it’s now or never.
“So I really hope that we will start this new era on the right foot, because, yeah, it’s important for the four years after.”
Despite starting almost full time on their 2026 project in April, given the kind of chaos Hamilton reveals is going on behind the scenes in Maranello, its difficult to see Ferrari leading the pack. And so come 2027 it will be all change, as Hamilton shuffles off into retirement, Leclerc moves to England and Oliver Bearman becomes the next victim of the hopes and dreams the only Ferrari can bring – to then shatter them into a thousand pieces.
Lando Norris ignored a clear team order in Abu Dhabi
Lando Norris arrived in Abu Dhabi facing the defining moment of his Formula 1 career. After seven seasons of close calls, heartbreaks, near-wins and public scrutiny over whether he possessed the decisive edge of a world champion, the McLaren driver finally secured the 2025 Formula One World Championship.
He clinched the title with a composed drive to third place under the Yas Marina floodlights, sealing a triumph shaped as much by consistency as by outright victories, but even some disobedience when it comes to team orders it seems…. READ MORE
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
