What happened: Former Formula 1 champion Damon Hill advised Ferrari to commit fully to Lewis Hamilton as its designated lead driver over Charles Leclerc for the 2027 campaign. Hill argued that backing Hamilton outright offers the Scuderia its strongest path to mounting a championship challenge next season.
Why it matters: The recommendation directly challenges Ferrari's stated direction after Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur maintained the team will keep its rules of engagement unchanged between both drivers. Ferrari finished behind Mercedes, which secured the 2026 Constructors' Championship in Brazil, while the Maranello squad seeks its first constructors' crown since 2008.
By the numbers: Ferrari sits 126 points behind Mercedes in the 2026 Constructors' Championship standings following the São Paulo Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc finished P8 and Lewis Hamilton took P9.
What to watch: Ferrari enters the final rounds of the 2026 schedule focusing on trackside execution before locking in driver roles for the 2027 season.