John Elkann’s title promise to Ferrari fans has resurfaced as F1 drought nears 20 years

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Ferrari’s Formula 1 team could look very different in 2027 if this year is a failure. Fred Vasseur’s contract was renewed despite a disappointing 2025 season, but he remains under pressure.

And then there are the drivers. Lewis Hamilton could be entering his final year in F1 if the trends of last season continue.

Neither party would have much appetite to continue for a third season in that scenario. By contrast, Ferrari will be desperate to keep Charles Leclerc.

Finish the sentence: In 2027, the Ferrari driver line-up will be…

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But Leclerc has indicated that he will strongly consider his future if he’s disappointed with the team’s package under the new regulations. The Monegasque has only won eight races in seven seasons with the Maranello outfit.

John Elkann said Ferrari would win the F1 title by 2026

Ferrari haven’t had a drivers’ champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, while their last constructors’ title came a year later. The drought is getting perilously close to 20 years.

Italian outlet Top Speed has recirculated comments from a 2022 interview with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who promised that the team would win a championship by 2026. That raises the stakes for the year even higher.

Ferrari are taking a ‘courageous’ approach with their new car but Mercedes and engine customers McLaren are seen as the favourites at this early stage.

“Our goal, first and foremost, is to be competitive,” Elkann said. “If you’re not competitive, you have no margin for error, while reliability can be improved.

“This is why I’m confident that between now and 2026, Ferrari will win a constructors’ and drivers’ world championship again. We’ll achieve this before the 20-year drought, given that our last drivers’ world championship was in 2007 and the constructors’ in 2008.

Charles Leclerc was told he’d be in ‘pole position’ to win the championship

Intriguingly, Elkann also suggested in the same interview that Leclerc would be the driver to end Ferrari’s long wait. At the time, he formed part of ‘the strongest pairing’ in F1 with Carlos Sainz.

F1 fans voted Ferrari’s line-up the best in 2025 but they’re unlikely to retain that mantle in the face of Hamilton’s struggles.

“We’re fortunate to have two great drivers at the wheel, probably the strongest pairing in Formula 1,” Elkann said.

“I think they’re two great drivers, and that motivates them to continually improve. I’m confident we’ll win not only the constructors’ championship, but also the drivers’ championship, and that Charles Leclerc will be in pole position.”

Mercedes were concerned about Hamilton’s ‘shelf life’ before he left, and looking back at Elkann’s remarks, one wonders why Ferrari chose to break up a partnership that they rated so highly.