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Ferrari dubbed the Manchester United of F1 as fans explain the real reason for 19-year title drought
Split image of Scuderia Ferrari F1 and Manchester United badge
Credit: Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images, Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

It has been exactly 19 years since Ferrari were last crowned world drivers’ champions in Formula 1.

Kimi Raikkonen won Ferrari’s last championship in 2007 at the Brazilian Grand Prix, bringing the team’s total to 15 drivers’ championships. They have also won 16 constructors’ championships.

But in the past 19 years, Ferrari have been unable to extend that tally, and even with a driver line-up of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton under new regulations in 2026, they have fallen short once again.

Ferrari last won the F1 title in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen 🏆 Why have the Scuderia gone 19 years without another title? And when will their next title arrive?

Kimi Raikkonen celebrates winning the 2007 F1 driver's title for Ferrari on the Brazilian Grand Prix podium
Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Ferrari’s F1 title drought reaches 19 years

The longest drivers’ title drought in Ferrari’s prestigious history in F1 was 21 years, between 1979 and 2000.

Ferrari are at risk of breaking that record if they don’t win another Drivers’ Championship before 2028.

F1 fans have been discussing where it has all gone wrong for the Scuderia on TalkingPoints.

One user compared Ferrari to Manchester United, another fallen giant in the football sphere who finds themselves chasing past success and getting it horribly wrong.

Like Ferrari, Manchester United are an extremely decorated team, yet they find themselves without a league title in 13 years.

Others accused Ferrari of becoming complacent as a team…

Another TalkingPoints user pointed to Ferrari’s near-misses over the years.

“Ferrari only had themselves to blame for Fernando Alonso not winning the 2012 title and Charles Leclerc not winning the 2022 title, after Red Bull out-developed them those years. As for 2018, what may have been for Ferrari had Sebastian Vettel not crashed in Germany…”

Team principal Fred Vasseur is under pressure in the paddock in 2026 after failing to bring silverware back to Maranello, and users also pointed towards Ferrari’s poor management as a reason for their drought.

“I can think of multiple reasons. Falling behind with regulation changes, poor strategic decisions which are still happening now, not changing their mentality from ‘we are Ferrari so we are the best’, poor management and driver mistakes. The fact it’s been this long without a title is criminal, and they were arguably lucky to win this one in 2007.”

Can Ferrari win the F1 drivers’ championship in 2027?

This year’s title has already almost been wrapped up by 2026 F1 champion-elect Kimi Antonelli, who could mathematically claim his crown as early as the upcoming United States Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s attention now turns to 2027, and there are promising signs that they can compete for the championship.

Firstly, Ferrari have a brilliant aero package among the best on the F1 grid. They have been innovative in 2026 and had success with their concepts, many of which they can bring into 2027.

However, Ferrari’s engine is a problem. Compared to rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull, Ferrari have a horsepower deficit and pay for it with their straight-line speed. Fixing the engine and providing a better power unit to Leclerc and Hamilton will be the top priority for 2027.

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