Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is staring down a series of pivotal decisions that will define the iconic team's future in Formula One. The 2026 season is being viewed internally as a make-or-break campaign, with the futures of legendary driver Lewis Hamilton and star Charles Leclerc hanging in the balance, alongside the management of a promising young talent.
The Hamilton Conundrum: Patience or a Pivot?
At the heart of Ferrari's immediate concerns is the future of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The 2025 season proved disappointing for the 40-year-old, who struggled to match the performance levels expected after his high-profile move from Mercedes.
While his legendary status currently ensures his seat for the start of the 2026 season, the team's patience is not infinite. Sources indicate that if significant improvements are not evident in the first half of the 2026 campaign, Ferrari may be forced to consider cutting their losses on the high-value partnership.
Further complicating matters is a potential shake-up in Hamilton's engineering team. Vasseur has hinted that Ferrari would not rule out a change to the driver's core support group for 2026. Hamilton's race engineer, Riccardo Adami—who previously worked with Carlos Sainz—faced scrutiny throughout 2025 for his communication with the champion.
Securing Leclerc and Navigating the Bearman Crossroads
While managing Hamilton's situation, Vasseur's primary objective is to secure the long-term future of Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver reportedly sees 2026 as a "make-or-break" year for his Ferrari career, leading to internal fears he could seek a rival seat if the team fails to deliver a championship-contending car.
Vasseur's mission is to restore Leclerc's confidence and tie him to a new multi-year contract to avoid a catastrophic loss of homegrown talent.
Simultaneously, Ferrari must chart a path for their brightest junior prospect, Oliver Bearman. The 20-year-old British prodigy is entering the final year of his contract with Haas in 2026 and expects a guaranteed promotion to a full-time Ferrari seat for 2027. If Vasseur cannot provide that assurance by the end of the upcoming season, the team risks losing Bearman to another manufacturer eager to snap up a future star.
Resolving the Reserve Driver Vacancy
Adding to the team's logistical challenges is the urgent need to appoint a new reserve driver. This follows Zhou Guanyu's departure to join the new Cadillac F1 project.
Dino Beganovic is a strong candidate for the role, while another academy talent, Rafael Camara, is making a compelling case as he prepares for his first full Formula Two championship campaign.
The cumulative weight of these decisions places immense pressure on Frederic Vasseur's leadership. The 2026 season is not just about building a faster car; it's about making strategic personnel choices that will either set Ferrari on a path back to glory or see them lose key assets in a highly competitive driver market.
