Ex-Ferrari boss backs Hamilton, hails Leclerc as future world champion

The 68-year-old former Ferrari team principal detailed his disappointment with the team’s 2025 campaign but remained steadfast in backing both drivers.

“I always follow it with all my heart; it's an indispensable passion. I'm disappointed like everyone else. I know how difficult it is to win in F1. I'll refrain from making judgments about who's there now,” Arrivabene said via Quotidiano Sportivo.

The Brescia native continued by throwing his support behind Hamilton, highlighting the need for the seven-time world champion to be handed the right machinery to effectively compete.

“Lewis isn't finished for me; he's still competitive. But you only bring in someone like Hamilton if you can give him a competitive car. He needs the right equipment to perform at his best. If you don't have that, don't hire him,” he said.

Arrivabene concluded by predicting a future drivers’ championship victory for teammate Leclerc.

“I launched Leclerc at Ferrari in 2019. He's a great driver, and he always proves it. I do not doubt that one day he'll become world champion. I don't know if it'll be with Ferrari, but I hope so. He'll definitely win the championship,” he said.

The 2025 campaign turned out to be a very challenging season for the Ferrari outfit. The Maranello-based team failed to record any race victory, achieving only seven podium finishes across the 24-race season.

Earlier, former Haas driver Romain Grosjean predicted Hamilton could walk away from Formula 1 at the end of the 2026 campaign.

The 39-year-old highlighted the challenging season the seven-time world champion has recently experienced, stating that a repeat of such could lead him to call it quits on his illustrious career.

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