2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Lewis Hamilton, who will be under pressure to prove that he still has something left in the tank.
After finishing 86 points behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in 2025, Lewis Hamilton will look to get back on track when the new season gets underway in Australia this March.
The seven-time world champion has never fully adapted to the ground-effect ruleset, and Adrian Newey’s comments on the upcoming regulation changes might give Hamilton hope that he’ll be able to rediscover his old form.
But it’s not just on the driver. There’s a lot of pressure right now inside Ferrari’s backroom staff after making the call last April to scrap their 2025 car and focus entirely on this year’s machine.
Team principal Fred Vasseur doesn’t think the result in Australia matters, given how much will change as the season goes on.
It seems like there are no more chances for Vasseur. If Ferrari lose faith in him, they might turn their attention toward someone new, with Toto Wolff and Christian Horner both available.
If Christian Horner joins Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton could be ready to leave
The Daily Mail has offered more insight into the current mood around Maranello. Ferrari hasn’t produced a championship car since Kimi Raikkonen’s title in 2007. Those doubts remain, especially with Fred Vasseur still looking to prove himself as team principal.
Vasseur is generally well-liked in the paddock, but his record doesn’t exactly jump off the page.
The same report floated an interesting scenario: what if Ferrari looked outside the organisation and brought in Christian Horner?
Right now, Horner is being linked with a potential move to Alpine, but nothing has been finalised there yet.
If Horner did join Ferrari, the Daily Mail says Hamilton would likely walk away from the team along with Vasseur. That would be quite a statement departure.
Lewis Hamilton could decide not to work with Christian Horner at Ferrari
There is no denying that Christian Horner has been a controversial figure throughout his two decades in Formula 1.
Horner’s time at Red Bull has been one of the most successful managerial spells in F1, even if some felt he could have achieved more with the dominance they showed at times.
The 2021 title battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen saw tempers flare between the two camps, but there was always going to be tension during a fight for the championship.
The failed attempt by Horner to weaken McLaren by pushing Mercedes to sign Hamilton is just one example of how their paths have crossed over the years.
While things seem to have improved between Horner and Toto Wolff, and there’s no lingering bad blood between Hamilton and Verstappen, it’s unclear if Horner ever fully mended fences with Hamilton.
If Ferrari were to bring in Horner despite knowing about his rocky history with Hamilton, it would send a strong message about their confidence in him as a signing from Mercedes.
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