Schumacher warns of drastic Ferrari changes if 2026 title bid fails

Ralf Schumacher has issued a stark warning to Ferrari, suggesting that the team's leadership structure—including team principal Frederic Vasseur—is on the line if the 2026 car fails to deliver a championship challenge. Following a winless 2025 season, the pressure is mounting on the Scuderia to perform with their new driver lineup and regulations.

Why it matters:

Ferrari is banking everything on the 2026 regulations reset to return to the front of the grid. With Lewis Hamilton fully integrated and Charles Leclerc hungry for a title, failure to compete immediately could trigger the kind of volatility that has plagued the team in the past, disrupting their long-term project.

The details:

• 2025 Struggles: The Scuderia failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory last year. While Charles Leclerc managed seven podiums, Lewis Hamilton's debut was largely underwhelming, highlighted only by a Sprint win in China.
• All or Nothing: Schumacher emphasized that "everything is at stake" regarding the new car's performance. He noted that development halted early last year to focus entirely on the 2026 project.
• Leadership at Risk: The former driver pointed to Ferrari's history of high turnover. If the team is not fighting for the title in the first few races, Schumacher predicts decisions will be made regarding Vasseur, who has explicitly labeled 2026 as their target year.

What's next:

The verdict will come quickly. Schumacher believes the upcoming pre-season tests and the first two races of the calendar will determine Ferrari's fate and whether Vasseur remains at the helm.