Steiner Urges Ferrari to Prioritize Hamilton in Championship Battle Amid Driver Tensions

Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has called on Ferrari to establish clear team protocols and fully support Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc in their pursuit of the 2026 championship title.

Ferrari’s internal dynamics faced scrutiny following the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, where divergent race strategies created tension between the two drivers. Hamilton, on fresher tires and demonstrating superior pace, found himself blocked behind Leclerc. The resulting delay proved costly for the seven-time world champion, prompting frustrated radio communications during the race.

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner contended that Ferrari neglected to establish pre-race guidelines regarding potential team orders.

“Team orders cannot be effectively introduced during a race,” Steiner stated. “These arrangements must be agreed upon beforehand. Realistically, can Charles Leclerc genuinely challenge for the world championship? Perhaps not. Who currently holds the advantage? Lewis.”

“While I haven’t calculated the precise mathematical probability of championship success, if one driver stands a better chance, it is Hamilton. As others have demonstrated, competition at the front remains exceptionally tight. Ferrari must commit their support to the driver showing the stronger opportunity.”

Steiner emphasized that team principal Fred Vasseur bears responsibility for initiating this crucial conversation.

“Fred, that responsibility falls to you,” Steiner added. “I don’t believe John Elkann should or would intervene at this stage, as doing so would essentially require him to manage the team directly. However, Fred maintains strong control over the situation, and he understands the imperative: Ferrari needs a world championship victory.”

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