No one in Formula 1 believes Ferrari will improve Lewis Hamilton’s woes if they make one drastic change in 2026

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Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s relationship has not got off to a good start in 2025. The seven-time champion has yet to score a podium for the famous red team.

So much was expected from the sport’s most successful driver of all time when he joined Ferrari from Mercedes over the winter. But besides winning the Sprint in Shanghai, his sensational transfer has not gone as anticipated.

His chances of an eighth title in 2025 are all but over as he sits sixth in the standings, 131 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc have struggled to find the right balance with the SF-25, which has proved to have such a small operating window.

Hamilton has struggled with a power steering issue, which has limited his effectiveness in braking late into corners. He and the factory have been looking to address their woes, with Ferrari set to debut their new rear suspension at the Belgian Grand Prix, which they hope will transform their season.

Ferrari’s data ‘confirmed an improvement’ with the new update, which will delight Hamilton and Leclerc. In theory, it will allow them to run the car lower, similar to the setup at the Chinese GP, where both were disqualified for a plank wear infringement.

There is also hope that these upgrades will carry them into the 2026 F1 regulations, which Hamilton is banking on to be competitive. But Ferrari’s poor performances in 2025 could lead to drastic changes for next season, including with team principal Fred Vasseur.

No one in F1 believes Ferrari will improve Lewis Hamilton’s woes by sacking Fred Vasseur

Ferrari sit second in the constructors’ championship, but that is slightly deceptive given their general lack of pace at the front of the field. It has created doubt over the future of Vasseur, who is out of contract in 2025.

Martin Brundle warned Ferrari not to resort to sackings if the team cannot improve their form. Journalist Michael Lamonato discussed how no one else in F1 would see Vasseur’s exit as an improvement for Hamilton via Pit Talk.

He noted that everyone would see it as a ‘backwards step’ for the next few years, which is time that the Brit may not have: “I do want to see something finally click there for a change. I want to see this Hamilton-Vasseur-Leclerc relationship work a little bit,” he said.

“Particularly considering Lewis Hamilton is there now, I think this is an important storyline for Ferrari to achieve something.

“Because I think the risk is that, if the team does, as is being rumoured quite heavily in the Italian press, decide to make a move on the team principal if results are not forthcoming.

“I don’t think anyone in Formula 1 really sees that as a path to anything other than another few years backwards step, success later down the line rather than next year, as it could potentially be, or at least in the first few years of this regulatory set.

“I don’t think Hamilton has that kind of time.”

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Lewis Hamilton would consider leaving Ferrari if they replaced Fred Vasseur with Christian Horner

Ralf Schumacher has heard that Ferrari are speaking to Vasseur over a new contract. This will be music to Hamilton’s ears, as the Frenchman was the key reason why he made the switch from Mercedes in the first place.

But rumours have been swirling around about the team principal’s future, with speculation that Christian Horner could take Vasseur’s place after his dismissal from Red Bull growing in recent weeks.

However, Horner is set to miss out on the Ferrari job as Vasseur looks likely to extend his contract. The former Red Bull boss coming to Maranello would not be a welcome move, as Hamilton would consider leaving Ferrari if Horner joined, according to Will Buxton.

With Vasseur set to stay, the team can begin building towards next season, where they hope they can mount a championship challenge. However, Ferrari have halted development of the 2026 car to focus more on the SF-25; a risky move if their updates bring no improvements on track.