Rival F1 team boss explains why he feels ‘sorry’ for Ferrari fans going into the 2026 season

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Ferrari fans have had to wait nearly 20 years since they last won a Formula 1 world championship.

With Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen behind the wheel, Ferrari came out on top in the constructors’ championship in 2008 ahead of McLaren and BMW Sauber.

The tifosi, Ferrari’s diehard fans, have been waiting for another moment of glory since then, and have watched multiple champions come and go as they hoped to end their wait.

Lewis Hamilton admitted he had more respect for Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso when he realised last season what he was up against at Ferrari.

The trio of world champions have all arrived and failed to win titles with the Scuderia, and Lewis Hamilton is still waiting for his first Ferrari podium.

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Charles Leclerc is another potential champion in waiting, but he has never been given a car that’s fast enough to compete.

Now, former Ferrari chief and current Audi boss Mattia Binotto has commented on the situation at Maranello.

He admits he’s still a ‘Ferrari fan’, but explains why he feels so bad for the team’s loyal fans.

READ MORE: Who is Audi F1 project chief Mattia Binotto? Everything you need to know

Mattia Binotto feels ‘sorry’ for Ferrari fans as wait for championship glory goes on

Binotto was speaking to RMC Motori ahead of the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season and asked about Ferrari.

He said: “Looking back at Ferrari’s past is very difficult for me.

“I am no longer part of the team, I don’t know the dynamics, I don’t know what’s going on, and I can’t judge.

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“I remain a Ferrari fan, I was born a fan, and I continue to be a fan of the red team even though I work on another Audi project.

“I feel sorry for the fans, for the current situation, and I feel especially sorry for all those people I know, with whom I have worked over the years.

“I know their value within the team, and I hope that Ferrari can take a step forward and return to being competitive, especially for the people who work there and for the many Ferrari fans around the world.”

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari entering new era of Formula 1 that could signal a return to the top of the championship

In Hamilton and Leclerc, Ferrari have two drivers who are more than capable of competing for championships.

Although his form in recent years hasn’t been spectacular, Hamilton has won seven world championships, and with the ground-effect era of cars now consigned to history, he will believe he can once again compete at the front of the grid.

Ferrari stopped concentrating on their 2025 car as early as April last year, giving them plenty of time to understand F1’s new ruleset.

Concerns about Ferrari’s 2026 engine could be ‘overbaked’, which means they may be able to compete with the Mercedes-powered cars that are expected to be at the front of the grid this year.

It all comes down to the aerodynamic design of the car, and while Ferrari’s rear suspension update didn’t work as planned last year, there are enough talented individuals within the team to nail the upcoming regulation changes.