Ferrari's Clear backs Hamilton, pointing to Schumacher's five-year wait for a win

Ferrari senior figure Jock Clear is staunchly defending Lewis Hamilton following a difficult 2025 season, urging patience by pointing to Michael Schumacher's legendary five-year wait for his first win with the team. Clear emphasized that building a winning partnership in Formula 1 is a complex process that doesn't happen overnight, despite the immense pressure on the seven-time champion. He believes Hamilton will return stronger in 2026, fully committed to the project.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the most significant in modern F1 history, creating massive expectations from fans and media alike. The immediate pressure for results overlooks the historical difficulty of integrating into Ferrari's complex structure and gelling with the car. Clear's comments serve as a crucial reality check, framing Hamilton's struggles not as a failure, but as a predictable part of a long-term project to end Ferrari's championship drought.

The details:

• The Schumacher Precedent: Clear directly referenced Michael Schumacher's journey, stating, "when Michael went to Ferrari, it took the team five years before he won anything." This sets a historical benchmark for patience.
• The Sainz Comparison: He also used a more recent example, noting Carlos Sainz's initial struggles at Williams before finding his pace later in the season. This illustrates that even top-tier drivers need time to adapt.
• Hamilton's Mindset: Clear confirmed that Hamilton is not discouraged and "will come back stronger and harder next year," fully committed to the development process.
• Team Stability: In a show of continuity, Ferrari has decided to keep Riccardo Adami as Hamilton's race engineer for 2026, avoiding any disruptive changes to the driver-side garage structure.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Hamilton and Ferrari during the 2026 preseason to see if the lessons from a tough 2025 translate into tangible progress. With the driver-engineer pairing remaining intact, the team is prioritizing stability as it works to close the gap to the front-runners. The narrative for 2026 shifts from "Can Hamilton win immediately?" to "Can Hamilton and Ferrari build the foundation for a future title challenge?" The success of this partnership will be measured in years, not a single season.