Stefano Domenicali, the former Ferrari team principal and current Formula 1 president, says the Scuderia \u201cneed to have a plan\u201d for F1 2026, and he is sure it has one.<\/p>\n
Urging Ferrari<\/a> that there is \u201cno need to always be negative\u201d, Domenicali explained that Ferrari needs to have the \u201cright energy\u201d coming into F1 2026, a season of major opportunity, having suffered a winless 2025 season, while the struggles of marquee signing Lewis Hamilton were another point of frustration.<\/p>\n Stefano Domenicali to Ferrari: \u2018Important to react\u2019<\/p>\n Ferrari had hoped to challenge for both titles in 2025, having pushed McLaren to a Constructors\u2019 title decider in Abu Dhabi the year prior. The signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was another shot of momentum.<\/p>\n Instead, Ferrari was restricted to fourth in the 2025 standings, while Hamilton failed to score a podium, with frustrated outbursts like telling Ferrari to \u201cchange driver\u201d, and calling it his \u201cworst season ever\u201d, doing little to lift spirits.<\/p>\n But lift its spirits, Ferrari must, says the Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali, also the former Ferrari team principal.<\/p>\n It was under Domenicali that Ferrari clinched the 2008 Constructors\u2019 Championship, still its most recent F1 title success.<\/p>\n In conversation with Sky F1, Domenicali was asked whether Ferrari can turn things around in F1 2026, with sweeping changes to the chassis and engine regulations coming into play.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to cry. There\u2019s no need to always be negative,\u201d said Domenicali.<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to have a plan.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure that Fred [Vasseur] and Lewis and Charles [Leclerc] have a plan. That\u2019s what is important. I think it\u2019s important to react, not to fade away with, let\u2019s say, as it is normal, to be fourth in the championship.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want a strong Ferrari, and they deserve to be in a stronger position. So, that\u2019s what they should take home for the winter break, to make sure that there is the right energy to follow-up.\u201d<\/p>\n Domenicali views this as important because in F1 2026, \u201ceveryone is talking, but nobody knows where we are\u201d, as he predicted an \u201cevolution\u201d of the landscape at every race.<\/p>\n One thing that we do know for certain is that Lando Norris goes into the new season as defending World Champion.<\/p>\n More on F1 2026 from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: Next-gen cars, new tyres, and design decisions<\/a><\/p>\n The ultimate F1 2026 guide: Everything you need to know about the 2026 season<\/a><\/p>\n Domenicali was asked what kind of figurehead he believes Norris will be as champion, especially with the younger members of F1\u2019s growing fanbase in mind.<\/p>\n \u201cVery positive. Younger, energetic, you know, with his personality that is different from the others\u201d he said of Norris.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he needs to keep one thing that I always said to him. Keep smiling. You need to have positive energy.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, they are young, so they are doing an incredible job. They are role models for a lot of people, so they need to remember that they are a unique talent, but, I always tell him, keep smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n