It will be the turning point. Or it will be the end

Three men at the crossroads The crossroads is clear, giant, inevitable. Either Ferrari 2026 will be the turning point, capable of returning to winning and convincing and – perhaps – applying for the world championship, or it will be the end. The end of the current working group, which will no longer be able to ask for time to put the boxes in the right place, why the gardening leave, why Maranello, why the pressure, why the journalists, why why why…
It’s time to bring the results home, otherwise it will be inevitable to change and look for another way to win again. The Prancing Horse’s last grand prix victory dates back to 27 October 2024: 28 races and 14 months. Ferrari is going through its longest world championship drought in history, if we count the interval between the last drivers’ and/or constructors’ titles won: 17 years have passed since the 2008 constructors’ championship, more than the 16 between 1983 and 1999 (again two world championship crowns between the teams) and the 11 between 1964 and 1975.
Clear numbers: we need to reverse course and quickly too. Vasseur no longer has time Frederic Vasseur, in Maranello from the beginning of 2023, knows he cannot postpone it any longer. With the regulatory revolution of the next championship, he has the task of presenting a Ferrari that is up to par. The intention of not wanting to make winter proclamations is good, but less good is putting one’s hands forward in saying that the Melbourne grid will not be all that indicative for establishing the balance of power in a world championship that will be decided based on developments. In the event of an initial storm it will be difficult to keep everything together and the first to risk leaving will be the French manager himself, despite the recent contract renewal. Hamilton needs to shake things up Then there’s Lewis Hamilton. Which beyond the iconic photos, the declarations and the dossiers, is called upon to let the only unquestionable judge speak: the stopwatch. Which in 2025 did not give him that strength and internal authority to lead the change in Ferrari without any ifs or buts. At 41, after a year behind Charles Leclerc, the regulatory revolution could be a boomerang for him. If he were to go fast, it would legitimize the doubts of a Hamilton who was never comfortable with ground effect cars. Should he still show uncertainties, problems, errors, difficulties in qualifying, the passing of time could ask him to account and push him to say enough is enough. Leclerc, between reason and heart Finally there is Charles Leclerc, the strongest and most courted of the three men at the crossroads in Maranello. He goes fast, ever stronger, ever more concentrated, ever more impatient. He whispered it: “2026 will be now or never.” He will have to choose for the sake of his career. Ferrari will always be the first choice, but they will have to face reality and the passing years: a talent like that at 28 cannot have won the paltry 8 grand prix. The choice between reason and heart: only a winning Ferrari will be able to sweep away any doubts in Charles’ head.