Arrivabene raises concerns about Ferrari's risk with Hamilton.

Arrivabene raises concerns about Ferrari's risk with Hamilton.

      "If you lack that, don’t bring him on board."

      Doubts are surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s future with Ferrari after a troubling debut season in red, with growing speculations about his potential absence in 2026. Former team principal Maurizio Arrivabene expressed his understanding of the disappointment in a statement to Leo Turrini. "Winning in F1 is incredibly challenging, so I won’t judge the current situation," he said to Quotidiano. "However, Lewis isn't done yet. He remains competitive, but you only bring in a driver like Hamilton if you can provide him with a competitive car. He requires the right tools. If you can’t offer that, don’t sign him. It's not a critique, it’s merely logical."

      This comes amid a somewhat awkward exchange between Hamilton and race engineer Riccardo Adami after the Abu Dhabi race, which gained attention online. During the race, Hamilton had voiced frustration with "Stop confirming!" but later shared a sincere message after the race: "Long season, guys. I’ll always fight for you." Following a brief silence, he inquired, "Did you receive that message? The one time you don’t respond." Adami eventually replied, "Sorry, we were in conversation. Thank you very much, Grazie mille."

      Team principal Frederic Vasseur asserts that the public does not see the full picture of Hamilton. "Lewis is quite different behind the scenes," he noted to Canal Plus. "During the debrief a half-hour later, he is much more constructive. Drivers who push us to our limits serve as our greatest motivation." Vasseur also commented on the broader instability within Ferrari. "At Ferrari, if FP1 goes well, you’re a world champion; if it doesn’t, half the team is at risk of being let go," he chuckled. "My role is to calm everyone, boost morale, and temper the extremes. I was aware of what I was signing up for."

      Nonetheless, Arrivabene remains steadfast in his admiration for Charles Leclerc. "I hold him in great regard," he stated. "He is an exceptional driver, and he consistently demonstrates that. One day, he will be a world champion. With Ferrari? I hope so, but I cannot say for certain. He will certainly win the championship."

Arrivabene raises concerns about Ferrari's risk with Hamilton.

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"One of the most disappointing positions I've ever attained" Fernando Alonso concluded 2025 feeling proud of his driving skills, yet dissatisfied with his final position in the championship standings—calling P10 "horrible". "It's one of the worst placements I've ever had in my career," remarked the 44-year-old Aston Martin driver. "Finishing tenth in the Drivers’ Championship is dreadful for me," he shared with AS. Nevertheless, he noted that his P6 finish in Abu Dhabi mirrored the level of performance he exhibited all season in a subpar car. "I qualified sixth and finished sixth. Nothing significant happened during the race—no safety car incidents, no poor pit stops. I never gain positions for free; I strive to fight for them." "While I am pleased with how the year went, I am eager for it to conclude." Following his immediate return to the UK from Abu Dhabi to work in the Aston Martin simulator, Alonso expressed that his primary goal in F1 these days is to outperform his teammate. 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"We have a new factory, a new wind tunnel, and for the first time, Adrian Newey is working on the car. The team that executes the best work will be at the forefront," he stated. "It’s up to us—if we don’t get it right the first time, we’ll need to make sure we do on the second attempt." When discussing Lando Norris's world championship victory, Alonso was gracious. "Congratulations, Lando, I'm very pleased. All three deserving of the championship—they've had an outstanding year. Piastri was particularly strong, Max is undoubtedly the best on the grid, and Lando has been incredibly fast." He also reflected on his long-standing relationship with the new champion. "When I departed from McLaren, he was the test driver, then we paired up at Daytona, and he’s a great guy and an extraordinary driver." 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Arrivabene raises concerns about Ferrari's risk with Hamilton.

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