Guenther Steiner highlights Lewis Hamilton’s biggest challenge in turbulent first season at Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton has faced one of the most difficult seasons of his Formula 1 career in 2025, as his adaptation to Ferrari has proven more challenging than many expected. The seven-time world champion currently sits sixth in the drivers’ championship, enduring the longest podium drought of his career since joining the Scuderia. Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the most talked-about moves in the paddock last winter, but as the season has progressed, questions have emerged over whether leaving the Silver Arrows was the right decision.
Ferrari themselves are no longer genuine contenders for the constructors’ championship as they were in the previous season. The SF25 has been notoriously difficult to handle, leaving both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc unable to secure a race victory. As Formula 1 prepares for the major 2026 regulation changes, Ferrari is expected to make significant technical improvements that could alter their competitiveness.
The season has been particularly turbulent for Hamilton, who reportedly disrupted team harmony at Ferrari after defying team orders during the closing stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Mercedes’ struggles to provide a title-winning car in his final years may have foreshadowed why Hamilton has found adapting to Ferrari so challenging.
Guenther Steiner pinpoints Hamilton’s biggest 2025 problem
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that the central issue affecting Hamilton’s performance in 2025 existed long before the Briton stepped into the Ferrari cockpit. Steiner attributes the difficulties to the enormous expectations and hype surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s move to Maranello. According to the former F1 team boss, the widespread belief that Lewis Hamilton would immediately contend for an eighth world championship placed an unrealistic burden on both the driver and the team.
Steiner emphasized that last year’s announcement of Hamilton joining Ferrari created an environment of heightened expectations. The media, fans, and even team members anticipated instant success, given Ferrari’s strong form in the latter half of the previous season. When reality failed to meet these expectations, disappointment followed for all parties, despite Hamilton’s proven track record and expertise.
Opportunities for Hamilton and Ferrari in 2026
Despite a challenging start, the Briton still has seven race weekends to regain momentum and build confidence ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Observers note that his experience and strategic awareness could allow him to capitalize on opportunities, particularly if McLaren drivers or Max Verstappen are engaged in intense battles at the front of the grid.
Steiner’s perspective aligns with a broader understanding in Formula 1 that success rarely comes immediately, particularly when integrating a world-class driver into a team undergoing development. The work of legendary technical directors, such as Adrian Newey at Aston Martin, demonstrates that significant improvements often take months to materialize on track, highlighting the long-term nature of performance gains.
At Ferrari, Hamilton’s feedback and guidance are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the SF26 and beyond. While 2025 may have been challenging, the lessons learned could benefit both the team and his teammate Charles Leclerc, who is arguably gaining the most from Lewis Hamilton’s expertise this season. Ferrari’s strategic focus on 2026 may require short-term sacrifices, but it sets the stage for greater competitiveness and potential championship contention in future seasons.
Ultimately, while Lewis Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari has been fraught with obstacles, the combination of his experience, technical insight, and Ferrari’s long-term planning suggests that the team could emerge stronger in 2026, with the Briton playing a pivotal role in their resurgence.
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