Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has revealed he's already heard troubling whispers from the Ferrari camp, suggesting that the upcoming 2026 season could turn into a "disaster" for the Scuderia. Maranello endured a disappointing 2025 campaign, with team principal Fred Vasseur admitting that development on last year's car was halted once it became clear the team wasn't in contention for the title.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failed to secure a single victory during the campaign, and the seven-time world champion's win in the Chinese Sprint race proved to be a false dawn.
Teams are beginning to unveil their 2026 challengers, with Red Bull showcasing their new livery alongside their new power unit development partners, Ford, in Detroit. Audi and Cadillac have already conducted filming days, and while Ferrari's SF-26 hasn't yet hit the test track, Ralf Schumacher is already concerned about the Scuderia's plans ahead of the new season.
Schumacher shared his thoughts on the potential frontrunners for the upcoming season on the "Backstage Boxengasse" podcast.
"I believe Isaak Hadjar can and will adapt to the situation at Red Bull very quickly," Ralf explained. "He has the great advantage of starting with a new car, at least alongside Max Verstappen. So, from that perspective, it will be an incredibly exciting year for Red Bull, and consequently for Mercedes, where it must be said the driver pairing is very stable. The same goes for McLaren."
"These are the teams that at least know they have two drivers they can work with, develop in one direction, and that will be their strength. As for Max, he'll have to wait and see, but he's a strong leader."
"And the disaster, as we're already hearing between the lines, seems to be Ferrari's once again."
"That's what stands out the most. They are developing two cars, and I can almost imagine why – because Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have completely different opinions about the car."
"If that's the case, then it's a disaster from the start. I've always said it, because you can't develop two cars. Yes, and Fred Vasseur also said that things seem to be anything but good."
Ferrari has taken action, replacing Lewis Hamilton's race engineer ahead of the new campaign, with Riccardo Adami moved to the team's driver academy. Communication between driver and race engineer will be even more crucial next year, as information on when to use different aerodynamic modes and boosts will be vital.
Ferrari is under more pressure than any other team, with fans and senior management expecting success from a team that hasn't won a championship since 2008.
There's also the potential for Leclerc to outperform Hamilton under the new regulations, creating another headache for Vasseur, who will have to assess whether retaining the seven-time world champion after his move from Mercedes was the right decision.
Schumacher continued to comment on Ferrari's issues ahead of 2026: "Yes, of course, everything depends on the team's performance."
"That's why we have to wait and see how the tests go, and I'd say the first two races, but of course, if that doesn't happen, because everything was focused on it – we were told that nothing more was being done from China onwards, only the new car – then you expect to be a more serious contender for the world title, and if that doesn't happen again, then obviously decisions will have to be made."
"I'm almost certain of that. But everyone knows it. This is nothing new at Ferrari."
"I mean, there's a wonderful statistic about how many team principals there have been and how many drivers have been changed. So, it's just pure Ferrari-style emotion in every respect."