Ferrari’s search for a way back to the top of Formula 1 may lead them to a bold move, one that could give Lewis Hamilton exactly what he needs.
It’s a familiar story by now. Just when Ferrari look ready to take the final step and fight for a title, the ground falls out from under them.
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They haven’t won a championship since 2008. That year, they took the constructors’ crown even as Lewis Hamilton claimed his first drivers’ title with McLaren. Since then, there have been near misses and false dawns, from Fernando Alonso’s heartbreak in 2010 to Sebastian Vettel’s title bids in 2017 and 2018, all ending in disappointment.
The pattern returned again in 2024. Fred Vasseur guided Ferrari to within 14 points of McLaren that season. But just 10 races into the following year, a 191-point gap had already opened up.
Nico Rosberg: Ferrari considering UK base to close the gap
This time, Ferrari may need more than another change at the top. According to 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, the team is considering something far bigger: opening a secondary base in the UK.
“I’ve seen a little bit of the inner workings there at Ferrari, and you can see that the level of excellence that they’re at is not comparable to the British teams, and especially to someone like Mercedes, in many areas,” Rosberg explained on the F1 Show.
“There are a couple of ideas that I heard going round. Ferrari have been exploring opening a subsidiary in the UK, because that’s where the F1 ecosystem is.”
Seven of the 10 teams are already based in the UK, and both Racing Bulls and Audi have recently committed to opening new facilities there as well. For Ferrari, any UK site would work alongside, not replace, their iconic Maranello headquarters.
“The problem then is getting the communication right,” Rosberg added. “If you do have a Ferrari entity in the UK, that’s one thing, but it still needs to communicate awesomely with the headquarters. Maybe that’s not possible.”
Hamilton backs Vasseur, but adds pressure for change
Lewis Hamilton has already defended Vasseur publicly. But behind the scenes, he’s also pushing for answers, and the pressure is building.
Hamilton’s contract reportedly includes an option to stay at Ferrari until the end of 2027. But for the project to succeed, the team may need to move quickly. Audi, for example, announced plans for a UK facility in February and expect it to open before the end of the same year.
Ferrari’s struggles to recruit top talent have already cost them once. Adrian Newey turned down their offer in 2024 in favor of Aston Martin, a team based just 25 minutes from his former Red Bull office.
Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc could both benefit if Ferrari put more staff closer to the sport’s talent pool. But the timing will be crucial.
Hamilton has called for both short-term upgrades and a long-term focus on 2026, and even a team with Ferrari’s resources may struggle to do both at once.
This time, breaking the cycle may mean stepping outside their comfort zone and into new territory.
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