Ferrari’s difficult Formula 1 campaign continues to generate intense debate, and former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has now delivered one of the harshest assessments yet of the Scuderia’s current situation. In the second part of an exclusive interview, Mazzola offered an uncompromising analysis of Ferrari’s internal culture, comparing today’s Maranello operation with the team’s dominant years under Jean Todt, Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn, while also sharing his views on Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and the future of Ferrari’s leadership structure.
Ferrari under pressure as Mazzola’s comments spark debate
The Formula 1 paddock continues to analyse Ferrari’s struggles after the Miami Grand Prix, while wider discussions around the future of engine regulations have added further complexity to the championship’s direction. Against this backdrop, Luigi Mazzola has returned with a deeply critical view of Ferrari’s current state.
His comments suggest Ferrari’s problems may run much deeper than simple on-track performance, pointing instead toward issues of mentality, organisation and long-term leadership.
The V8 debate and Formula 1’s uncertain future
One of the major talking points in the interview involved Formula 1’s long-term regulatory future. Recent discussions surrounding a potential return to V8 engines around 2030 or 2031 have reignited debate across the paddock.
According to Luigi Mazzola, the fact such conversations are happening at all reflects wider dissatisfaction with the current technical cycle. The cost, complexity and engineering demands of modern hybrid power units have forced Formula 1’s governing bodies to reassess what the sport should look like in the next decade.
A move toward simpler, louder and more traditional engines would also represent an indirect acknowledgement that the current formula has not fully delivered what many had hoped.
Ferrari today compared to the Schumacher-Todt era
The most striking section of Mazzola’s analysis focused on Ferrari’s internal mentality.
Reflecting on the Scuderia’s golden era, he described an environment defined by relentless pressure, absolute focus and an obsession with performance. He recalled a culture where long nights at Maranello were considered normal, with everyone fully committed to the shared objective of winning world championships.
“There were people still at the factory until ten or eleven at night.”
That comment serves as a sharp contrast to his perception of the current Ferrari operation. Luigi Mazzola openly questioned whether the same hunger still exists inside Maranello today, suggesting the level of internal pressure and urgency that once defined Ferrari may no longer be present in the same way.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari adaptation remains incomplete
The arrival of Lewis Hamilton was initially viewed as the beginning of a major new chapter for Ferrari, but Mazzola believes the seven-time world champion’s transition has been far from straightforward.
Coming from Mercedes — one of the most structured and successful organisations in modern Formula 1 — Lewis Hamilton has found himself adapting to a very different environment at Ferrari. Technical instability, internal changes and the challenges of extracting performance from the current car have made the adjustment process more difficult than many expected.
At the same time, Lewis Hamilton’s direct comparison with Charles Leclerc has highlighted some unexpected challenges, reinforcing the idea that the Ferrari project still needs time before it can truly be judged as a success.
Charles Leclerc remains Ferrari’s benchmark
While Lewis Hamilton represents Ferrari’s biggest recent strategic and commercial investment, Charles Leclerc remains the driver who most impresses Luigi Mazzola.
The former Ferrari engineer described the Monegasque as a pure natural talent, capable of extracting performance beyond what the car should realistically deliver. In his view, if Ferrari were to provide Charles Leclerc with a genuinely title-worthy machine, he would become exceptionally difficult for any rival to beat. That belief also brings a clear concern: that one of Formula 1’s most gifted drivers could see his prime years limited by a team unable to consistently provide championship-level machinery.
Frederic Vasseur, John Elkann and the defining 2026 crossroads
Mazzola also turned his attention toward Ferrari’s management structure, identifying 2026 as a potentially decisive season for the Scuderia’s long-term sporting project. A major leadership reset would mean starting over yet again — a familiar and costly cycle for Ferrari, where rebuilding a winning structure takes years rather than months. According to his analysis, John Elkann has placed a major bet on the current leadership group, but the results so far have not fully justified that decision.
As a result, pressure on Frederic Vasseur could rise significantly if Ferrari fails to show convincing progress.
McLaren’s rise offers a clear contrast
The conversation also touched on McLaren’s impressive growth.
While Luigi Mazzola avoided direct commentary on all of Ferrari’s internal mechanisms, he highlighted McLaren as an example of technical clarity, organisational consistency and strong execution. The British team’s rise is seen as the result of a clearly defined strategy, built methodically over time rather than through reactive short-term decisions.
Final analysis
Luigi Mazzola’s comments represent a serious warning sign for Ferrari. The criticism extends well beyond the competitiveness of the current car, raising questions about internal mentality, organisational efficiency, leadership direction and long-term vision. Ferrari remains one of motorsport’s most iconic institutions, but the danger of losing even more ground to rivals appears very real.
For Maranello, 2026 could become the true turning point. The Tifosi are waiting — but more than words, they want results on track.
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