Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has questioned Charles Leclerc’s racecraft following the Ferrari driver’s clash with Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The Italian-American believes the Monegasque is too easily influenced by his emotions during wheel-to-wheel battles, arguing that Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso take a more calculated approach and make fewer mistakes.
The on-track confrontation between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in Mexico has reignited debate about the two drivers and their relationship within Ferrari. Their battle has prompted a wide range of opinions, including a particularly critical assessment from Guenther Steiner.
Guenther Steiner questions Charles Leclerc’s racecraft after Mexico GP
Charles Leclerc has come under scrutiny over an aspect of his driving that several Formula 1 observers consider one of his greatest strengths: racecraft. The term describes a driver’s ability to fight rivals at extremely close quarters, sometimes separated by mere millimetres, while avoiding contact and emerging from the battle in a stronger position.
Speaking on The Red Flag podcast, Guenther Steiner suggested that Charles Leclerc’s emotional approach to racing can prevent him from making the same calculated decisions as some of Formula 1’s most experienced competitors.
“I think Leclerc gets too carried away by his emotions without thinking things through,” Guenther Steiner said. “The others, on the other hand, calculate every move. In that respect, Leclerc is not at the level of Verstappen, Alonso and Hamilton, who are more cool-headed and make very few mistakes, whereas Leclerc is a little more error-prone.”
The criticism comes amid renewed attention on the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, following their controversial battle at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Steiner praises Kimi Antonelli’s composure and title-winning approach
Guenther Steiner also contrasted Charles Leclerc’s temperament with the maturity shown by Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, highlighting the young Italian’s ability to remain composed and make calculated decisions during races.
“Leclerc is much more fiery than the three drivers I’ve mentioned, and another driver who is surprising me is Antonelli,” Guenther Steiner added. “If we take his age into account, he is proving to be remarkably clear-headed and calculating in races. This year, he has often settled for what he could achieve, even when it wasn’t victory, and by making very few mistakes, he secured the title well ahead of schedule.”
For Guenther Steiner, the distinction is not simply about outright speed or the ability to overtake. His assessment centres on the judgement required during close racing, with Charles Leclerc’s more emotional approach contrasting with the calculated style he attributes to Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso.
The comments add another perspective to the discussion surrounding Ferrari’s driver pairing after Mexico, where the team’s internal battle prompted a response from Fred Vasseur. The broader comparison between the two Ferrari drivers can also be explored through their 2026 Formula 1 head-to-head statistics.
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