Sauber’s near‑Hamilton deal, Ferrari’s ‘revolutionary’ 2026 engine, and other F1 headlines

Sauber says it almost signed a rookie Lewis Hamilton in 2007, Ferrari is reviving a steel‑alloy cylinder‑head for its 2026 engine, Mercedes set a Jan 22 launch for the W17, Cadillac named Zhou Guanyu as reserve, and Vettel reflected on his career decline. All eyes are on how these developments will shape the grid ahead of the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

• Hamilton’s near‑move shows Sauber once chased top talent, underscoring driver‑acquisition ambitions.
• Ferrari’s steel‑alloy heads could boost power but reliability will decide if they survive the 2026 hybrid rules.

The details:

• Peter Sauber says talks collapsed after McLaren rejected a two‑year loan, forcing Hamilton to debut with McLaren and narrowly miss a rookie title in 2007.
• Ferrari abandoned steel‑head work in 2025 over durability concerns, but recent testing convinced engineers to reinstate the design for Project 678.
• Mercedes announced a Jan 22 launch for the W17, a month before the season opener, to showcase its hybrid system, active aerodynamics and sustainable‑fuel integration.

What's next:

• If Ferrari resolves reliability, its engine could narrow the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull in 2026.
• Zhou’s reserve role could become a fast‑track to a full seat if Cadillac secures a grid slot, while Sauber’s past interest in Hamilton may shape future driver talks.