P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc tipped to be at odds as Ferrari’s 2026 F1 challenger is dubbed a “looming disaster” by Ralf Schumacher.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are predicted to clash at Ferrari in 2026, with Ralf Schumacher calling the team’s new Formula 1 car a “looming disaster”. Leclerc initially believed Hamilton’s driving style was similar to his, but the seven-time World Champion has struggled at Ferrari both on and off the track. Hamilton failed to perform as well as Leclerc during the season, without winning any races.
Heading into 2026, Hamilton will aim to drive development at Ferrari based on his preferences, potentially conflicting with Leclerc. Schumacher fears this clash could lead to Ferrari’s failure even before the start of the season. The differing demands of Hamilton and Leclerc could divide Ferrari’s engineering team, hindering the development of a successful car.
The team’s division between the two drivers’ preferences may lead to developing two separate cars rather than focusing on a unified design philosophy. Schumacher and others believe this approach is far from ideal and could impact Ferrari’s performance in the upcoming season.”
