Lewis Hamilton and Scuderia Ferrari are expected to encounter significant difficulties during the 2026 season due to the recent loss of crucial team members. As the 2025 campaign nears its end, Ferrari has experienced the departure of several vital personnel impacting its preparations for next year.
A report from Motorsports Italia revealed that Wolf Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt, two key figures involved in developing Ferrari’s 2026 engine, have left the team to join Audi. This setback within the engine development department, overseen by Enrico Gualtieri, has been described as a considerable blow to the Maranello-based outfit’s ambitions.
Originally, Ferrari’s 2026 power unit had been expected to rival Mercedes’ engine performance. However, the departure of Zimmermann and Schmidt has introduced delays and uncertainty in achieving this objective. Ferrari has been under mounting criticism throughout the 2025 season, and Lewis Hamilton’s arrival has intensified scrutiny on the team’s fortunes.
Ferrari’s 2025 Season: A Campaign Full of Struggles
The ongoing 2025 season has proven challenging for Ferrari, which has yet to secure a race win. The only success the team has celebrated so far is a Sprint Race victory earned by Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix. This modest achievement highlights the difficulties faced by the team as it struggles to break the dominance of rivals.
With team principal Frederic Vasseur at the helm, Ferrari is now focusing on enhancing its 2026 engine despite losing two of its key engineers who have moved to Audi. This development phase comes with increased pressure to deliver improved results in the near future.
Hamilton Reflects on the Pressure of Racing for Ferrari
After the Dutch Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton openly discussed the intense pressure within Ferrari. The British driver acknowledged the weight of expectations on the team and on himself in particular.
“There’s obviously a huge amount of pressure on us as a team, more so for me now,” he said. “I haven’t had a good season. Next week, we’ll just try to absorb all the energy from the fans.” —Lewis Hamilton, Driver
Despite these challenges, Hamilton emphasized his mental resilience and the positive aspects of his performance during the season so far, including his progress in closing the gap to the cars ahead.
“I’m fine, I feel fine mentally, I’ve felt lots of positives,” he said. “I felt I was making progress; I was catching the car ahead. It’s tough to have a result like that, but I’ve been racing for so long, I’ve had God knows how many races, and you can probably count on one hand that sort of incident.” —Lewis Hamilton, Driver
Setback in Zandvoort Highlights Ongoing Challenges
Hamilton’s race at Zandvoort ended prematurely after he crashed during a weather-affected event. On lap 23, the driver lost control after hitting a wet paint patch, causing him to collide with the barrier and retire from the race. This incident added to the difficult season for both Hamilton and Ferrari.
What Lies Ahead for Hamilton and Ferrari in 2026
The combination of key personnel losses and persistent struggles during 2025 raises questions about Ferrari’s competitiveness in 2026. With the engine department under pressure after the exit of Zimmermann and Schmidt, and Hamilton carrying the burden of expectations, the Maranello team faces a crucial period of development and adaptation.
How Ferrari responds in its preparation and whether it can regain momentum will be decisive for both the team and Hamilton’s ambitions. The upcoming season will test their ability to overcome setbacks and deliver a power unit capable of challenging Mercedes and others at the front of the grid.
