Lewis Hamilton could be walking into an ‘engineering cul-de-sac at Ferrari, Sky Sports pundit Simon Lazenby has warned.
Ferrari, who have lured Hamilton from Mercedes from the 2025 season, were the only team other than Red Bull to win a race in 2024. The Italian outfit have their own version of a pull rod on the front suspension, something no other F1 car appears to have.
Lazenby believes it could lead Ferrari down a ‘cul-de-sac’ when new regulations are introduced in 2026, leaving Hamilton in a difficult position.
“[Team principal Fred Vasseur] had a tough start. In his first six months into the job he lost some key personnel in Ferrari,” Lazenby said.
“David Sanchez went to McLaren. Laurent Mekies has gone off. And a couple of key aero guys. He’s rebuilding this in his image with the help of John Elkann.
“It seems like when the Ferrari F1 team isn’t going too well, the chairman doesn’t interfere. They just stay in the background. But he has been front and centre of it.
“I wonder what assurances Lewis has been given about 2026 and beyond. Go back and think about his move from McLaren to Mercedes. He made it at the right time. We’re a couple of years off the regulations changes.
“Let’s not forget that this is a Ferrari geared to win a race last year. The only [other car apart from Red Bull to win a race].
“They are the only ones, with regards to the rear suspension, who have got this pull rod. They have gone in their own direction with it.
“Mercedes have moved to the same sort of suspension set-up that Red Bull have got. Most of the teams have gone that way. You hope for his sake that they haven’t gone down an engineering cul-de-sac. Proof will be in the racing.
“I think he’s risking a lot. But he will be incredibly well briefed about their plans for the future. The key will be: can he do a Schumacher?”