Expert Ralf Schumacher believes that Ferrari would have won more races in the 2026 Formula 1 season with different drivers behind the wheel
Does Ferrari need better drivers if it is to finally become world champion in Formula 1 again? At least expert Ralf Schumacher believes that the Scuderia would have secured more race wins in the 2026 season with different drivers at the wheel.
“If they had someone like Kimi [Antonelli] or Max Verstappen in the car now, they’d probably have won a few more races this year,” explains the six-time Grand Prix winner on Sky’s ‘Backstage Boxengasse’ podcast.
With three races remaining in the 2026 season, Ferrari has only two wins to its name. Lewis Hamilton triumphed in Barcelona, whilst his team-mate Charles Leclerc won at Silverstone. This means Ferrari has secured the fewest wins of any of the top teams so far this year.
Mercedes has claimed the most with twelve wins, whilst McLaren and Red Bull have each won three times. According to Schumacher, this is also down to the drivers. “I believe that a Kimi Antonelli would leave Leclerc and Hamilton in his wake. And Max probably would too,” he says.
In Hamilton’s case, his age is the main problem. The record-holding world champion is “certainly one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers there has ever been,” says Schumacher. But: “I find it hard to believe that, in your early 40s, you can still be as good as you were in your prime between the ages of 20 and 30.”
Hamilton will turn 42 next January, which is why Schumacher believes that Ferrari will have to start looking for a successor in the foreseeable future. “I think it will be decided next year who gets the chance,” said Schumacher.
He sees the two Ferrari juniors, Rafael Camara and Oliver Bearman, as being on the shortlist. “I believe these are two drivers who have potential for the future and who can also win races and become world champions,” explained Schumacher.
Schumacher: Hamilton won’t get number one status
The expert also suspects that the driver pairing of Hamilton and Leclerc is currently a problem for Ferrari, “because they are on the same level”. Max Verstappen had previously stated that Ferrari had not done itself any favours by signing two number-one drivers.
“I’m curious to see how they’ll handle this. And also how things will develop between the two of them,” says Schumacher, who does not expect Ferrari to make any changes for 2027. “There won’t be a clear number one, even if Lewis would like there to be,” said Schumacher.
“He’s obviously not happy with the situation,” he said of Hamilton, explaining that, as Ferrari is unlikely to name a number one driver next year either, it “looks more as though things will carry on as they are on the track”.
Schumacher’s former team-mate Damon Hill recently called for the Scuderia to back Hamilton fully from the outset in 2027. “If they have a competitive car next year, they could win the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships,” Hill told Sky.
“ And I can’t imagine how they’re going to manage that if their two drivers carry on behaving as they have done so far,” said the 1996 world champion, who therefore explained: “I think it makes sense to put all their eggs in Lewis’s basket.”