Samwise F1 Newsletter
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Italian Press Claims Ferrari Are Hunting Vassseur’s Successor Amid “Terrible Relationship” Report
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera is reporting that Ferrari are actively seeking a successor to team principal Fred Vasseur, describing him as “tired and worn out” — published on the same day Ferrari staged an emergency press call to declare their confidence in him. The Corriere claims a “terrible relationship” exists between Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna. Chairman John Elkann and Vigna have reportedly tried to persuade Antonello Coletta, Ferrari’s successful head of endurance racing, to move into the team principal role, but Coletta has so far declined. The paper describes Christian Horner as “a red herring” and suggests Vasseur may retire voluntarily at season’s end.
Ex-Ferrari Boss Arrivabene: Signing Horner Alone Will Not Fix the Scuderia’s Deep Problems
Former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has dismissed the idea that Christian Horner alone can solve Ferrari’s crisis, telling Sky Sport Italia: “At Ferrari, one man alone cannot change things.” Arrivabene, who led the team for five seasons between 2014 and 2019, warned that Horner arriving with his formidable title-winning résumé could generate damaging expectations rather than provide relief. He called on the Scuderia to “start from scratch,” pointing to a drain of engineering talent now at rival teams. “Ferrari needs calm and carte blanche,” Arrivabene said. “These two things can solve many problems. It’s not just one man, however decorated.”
Analysis: Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Gamble Is Looking Like the Biggest Mistake of His Career
Analysis published Tuesday argues Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari is shaping up as the defining misstep of his career. Hamilton, 41, left a Mercedes team that struggled from 2022 to 2024, drawn by Ferrari’s apparent upward trajectory and the promise of a record eighth title. The tide has turned sharply since. Ferrari have not been on the podium in six consecutive races, Hamilton’s title fight has collapsed, and the Scuderia is beset by internal turmoil. Former team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who inherited Hamilton’s Mercedes seat, leads the 2026 championship with 302 points. Hamilton sits third on 199, trailing by 103 points with eight rounds remaining.
FIA Race-Ban Watch: Multiple Drivers Now Elevated After Azerbaijan Grand Prix Penalty Points
The FIA’s post-Azerbaijan Grand Prix penalty points tally shows several drivers at elevated risk of an automatic race ban heading into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang. Franco Colapinto leads the danger list after collecting additional points for his three-car safety-car restart crash involving Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris. Norris also received penalty points from the Azerbaijan incident. Under FIA regulations, a driver who accumulates 12 penalty points within a rolling 12-month window receives an automatic one-race ban. The Baku crashes have heightened scrutiny of penalty point management as the championship enters its decisive eight-race run-in.
Grosjean Drops Bombshell: “I Was Not Allowed to Beat Fernando Alonso” While at Renault
Former Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean has claimed that during his time at Renault he was operating under team orders not to beat Fernando Alonso, in comments timed to coincide with Alonso’s confirmation this week that he will race in 2027. “I was not allowed to beat him,” Grosjean told a French media outlet. The statement sheds fresh light on Alonso’s long-standing expectation of number-one status and his combative reputation as a team-mate. Alonso, 45, confirmed Tuesday he will race for Aston Martin in a 24th Formula 1 season next year, defying months of speculation that the two-time world champion might retire at season’s end.
Round 15 of 23 — After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Drivers' Championship
| Pos | Driver | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | K. Antonelli | 302 |
| 2 | G. Russell | 236 |
| 3 | L. Hamilton | 199 |
| 4 | L. Norris | 186 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc | 179 |
| 6 | M. Verstappen | 163 |
| 7 | O. Piastri | 120 |
| 8 | I. Hadjar | 86 |
| 9 | L. Lawson | 59 |
| 10 | P. Gasly | 41 |
| 11 | A. Lindblad | 37 |
| 12 | F. Colapinto | 27 |
| 13 | O. Bearman | 20 |
| 14 | G. Bortoleto | 10 |
| 15 | N. Hulkenberg | 7 |
| 16 | E. Ocon | 7 |
| 17 | C. Sainz | 7 |
| 18 | A. Albon | 5 |
| 19 | F. Alonso | 3 |
| 20 | Y. Tsunoda | 1 |
| 21 | L. Stroll | 0 |
| 22 | V. Bottas | 0 |
| 23 | S. Perez | 0 |
Constructors' Championship
| Pos | Constructor | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 538 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 378 |
| 3 | McLaren | 306 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 263 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 83 |
| 6 | Alpine | 68 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 27 |
| 8 | Audi | 17 |
| 9 | Williams | 12 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency