Formula 1's chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has issued a pointed warning to his former team, Scuderia Ferrari, stating they must devise a concrete strategy to escape their current cycle of disappointment. This comes after a dismal 2025 campaign where star drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed to win a single Grand Prix.
A Season of Frustration for the Scuderia
The 2025 F1 season was one to forget for the iconic Italian marque. Under team principal Frederic Vasseur, the team's only taste of victory came from a Sprint race win for Hamilton in Shanghai last March. That fleeting joy was brutally erased just a day later when both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix due to a ride height infringement.
This incident set a bleak precedent for the year. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a historically poor season, failing to stand on a single podium for the first time in his illustrious career. Charles Leclerc fared slightly better, securing seven podium finishes and ending the season 86 points and one place above his teammate in the drivers' standings, but the ultimate prize remained elusive.
Domenicali's Call for a Plan and a Fresh 2026 Start
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Domenicali, who was Ferrari's team principal during their last constructors' title win in 2008, expressed cautious optimism but emphasised the need for action. "I'm a positive guy. There's no need to cry, there's no need to always be negative," he said. "[But] they need to have a plan. I'm sure Fred, Lewis and Charles have a plan and that's what is important."
He stressed that Ferrari must not accept mediocrity, warning against it becoming "normal to be fourth in the championship." Domenicali, now responsible for F1's commercial success, believes "a strong Ferrari" is intrinsically good for the sport's health.
The upcoming 2026 season presents a critical reset opportunity with new engine and aerodynamic regulations. Domenicali noted that while everyone is talking, no team's true position is yet known, urging fans to stay tuned for a volatile development race.
Hamilton's Quiet Winter and Personal Vow
Following a difficult debut year with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, who turned 41 recently, has been largely silent during the off-season, honouring his pledge to disconnect. However, in a birthday message on Instagram, the Briton hinted at a new approach for the challenges ahead.
"The time for change is now," Hamilton wrote. "Starting new routines, leaving behind unwanted patterns and working on growth... it starts with the first step." This suggests a driver determined to prove he has lost none of his speed and is ready to fight back if provided with a competitive car for the 2026 campaign.
The pressure is now squarely on the Ferrari management to deliver a machine capable of ending a championship drought that stretches back to Domenicali's own tenure, ensuring their superstar driver pairing can finally convert potential into victories.
