Here is the thing about Formula 1: sometimes the machine is there, but the lineup isn't. According to Motorsport.com Deutschland, expert Ralf Schumacher has laid it out plainly, arguing that Ferrari would have bagged significantly more victories in the 2026 season if they had other names behind the wheel.
Speaking on the Sky podcast Backstage Boxengasse, the six-time Grand Prix winner made his stance clear. Drop a Kimi (Antonelli) or a Max Verstappen into that machine, and the Scuderia would likely have several more wins to their name this year. As it stands with three races remaining in the 2026 campaign, Ferrari sits on a meager two victories. Lewis Hamilton took the top step in Barcelona, while teammate Charles Leclerc triumphed in Silverstone.
That leaves Ferrari with the lowest win tally among the top teams this season. Mercedes leads the charge with twelve victories, while McLaren and Red Bull have claimed three each. Schumacher points the finger firmly at the cockpit. A driver like Kimi Antonelli would run circles around Leclerc and Hamilton, he claims, and a Max would likely do the same.
Age is the glaring hurdle for Hamilton, in Schumacher's eyes. While acknowledging the record-setting world champion as one of the most successful racers the sport has ever seen, the logic is brutal: at the start of January, Hamilton turns 42, and Schumacher struggles to believe someone in their early forties can match the sharpness of drivers in their prime between 20 and 30. Because of this, Ferrari will need to hunt for a successor soon, with Schumacher pointing to junior talents Rafael Camara and Oliver Bearman as future material who can win and become world champions.
Beyond age, the dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc is causing friction. Max Verstappen previously noted that Ferrari did themselves no favors by hiring two number-one drivers, a sentiment echoed by Schumacher, who notes they are simply on the same level. Hamilton will not get a designated number-one status despite wanting it, meaning internal battles on the track will likely persist.
That creates a stark disagreement in the pundit circle. Damon Hill recently urged the Scuderia to throw all their weight behind Hamilton from the start of 2027. The 1996 world champion argued that if the car is competitive, they can sweep both titles, but only if they stop their drivers from behaving as they have so far.
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