Positive news from Maranello as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc give verdict on the 2026 Ferrari contender: Reports

Latest reports from Italy suggest that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are optimistic about Ferrari's 2026 challenger. This comes after the pair shared positive feedback from recent simulator sessions with next year's car.

After an underwhelming 2025 season, the pressure has been building on Scuderia Ferrari to get things right sooner rather than later. It seems the whole team, including team principal Fred Vasseur, is under scrutiny from chairman John Elkann, and another difficult season in 2026 could be detrimental. It is also reasonable to assume that Elkann himself is feeling pressure from other stakeholders and fans.

Hence, a lot is riding on the 2026 season, and expectations are high amid what is set to be one of the biggest regulation changes in recent F1 history. Multiple reports suggest Mercedes are likely to have the quickest engine, with Ferrari not expected to be too far behind.

Now, more positive noise about 2026 is coming out of Maranello with a new report from AutoRacer Italy claiming that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have given positive feedback on the simulator after trying the latest version of the 2026 challenger in recent days.

While these reports are not confirmed, and any simulator performance must be taken with a pinch of salt, the team would certainly prefer positive reactions rather than concerns about the progress made so far.

It remains to be seen what the pecking order will look like next year. A true judgement will only be possible once the 2026 cars arrive on track for the first time during pre-season testing. All that can be said with certainty is that a lot seems to be riding on next year for the Scarlet Red team.

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Former F1 driver claims "politics" is Ferrari's biggest problem

John Elkann and Fred Vasseur at the pre-season testing in Bahrain in February - Source: Getty

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has claimed Ferrari's biggest problem is "politics" within their hierarchy, which, according to him, has held the team back. The Colombian also reflected on chairman John Elkann's remarks, asking his drivers to "talk less".

Speaking to AS Colombia, Montoya tore into Elkann's comments and explained his understanding of what is wrong behind the scenes at the sport's most successful team.

"The reason he said that is because there’s some internal pressure against him. The best way to combat it is to reflect it outward, but you have to realise at some point that the way things are being done isn’t working," said Montoya. "The biggest problem at Ferrari is politics, a lot of politics," he added.

Montoya also claimed that the SF-25 has numerous significant issues that are hampering the drivers. The 50-year-old also criticized Ferrari for failing to recognize and address these issues, which he says are very obvious.

Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar