Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari should delay any number-one driver decision
Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable resurgence has transformed Ferrari’s outlook in the 2026 Formula 1 season, but former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes the Scuderia should resist the temptation to immediately rally behind the seven-time world champion.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s breakthrough victory in Barcelona, speculation has intensified over whether Ferrari should begin prioritising his championship challenge. With the British driver now just 41 points behind Drivers’ Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, many observers believe the Maranello squad should already be considering team orders.
Guenther Steiner, however, sees the situation differently. In his view, the season is still too young for Ferrari to sacrifice Charles Leclerc’s opportunities, particularly when both drivers remain capable of delivering valuable points in the Constructors’ Championship.
Lewis Hamilton’s revival changes Ferrari’s championship ambitions
The contrast between the Briton’s first and second Ferrari seasons has been remarkable. After enduring a frustrating debut campaign in 2025, the seven-time world champion has rediscovered his confidence with the SF-26 and once again established himself as one of Formula 1’s leading contenders.
Back-to-back second-place finishes followed by a dominant victory in Barcelona have dramatically changed the internal atmosphere at Ferrari. The team now possesses a genuinely race-winning package, and Lewis Hamilton has become a realistic contender in the battle for both race victories and the Drivers’ Championship.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has experienced a far more difficult spell. Consecutive retirements have cost the Monegasque valuable championship points, leaving him under increasing pressure to rebuild momentum during the European leg of the season.
Why Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari should remain patient
Speaking on The Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner argued that one race victory should not be enough to completely reshape Ferrari’s internal hierarchy.
The former Haas team principal suggested that Fred Vasseur’s priority should remain giving both the British driver and Charles Leclerc equal opportunities to compete while gathering more evidence about how the championship develops over the coming races.
According to Steiner, Lewis Hamilton has clearly enjoyed stronger form in recent Grands Prix, but he believes Ferrari should continue allowing both drivers to race freely until there is a much clearer indication of who has the best chance of fighting for the world title.
Steiner also argued that any decision regarding team orders would make far more sense after the summer break, when the championship standings and the competitive order are likely to be more established. Until then, he believes Ferrari’s focus should remain on maximising points for both championships rather than creating unnecessary internal restrictions.
Balancing the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships
One of the key challenges facing Ferrari is balancing its pursuit of both Formula 1 titles.
Fred Vasseur has repeatedly stated that winning remains the team’s ultimate objective, and with the SF-26 continuing to improve through regular technical developments, Ferrari has positioned itself as a genuine contender against Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull.
Allowing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to race each other freely also helps maximise the team’s overall points haul in the Constructors’ Championship, particularly while both drivers remain mathematically capable of mounting strong campaigns.
However, Steiner acknowledged that the situation could evolve rapidly if one Ferrari driver establishes a significant advantage later in the season. At that stage, prioritising a single championship contender would become a logical strategic decision rather than a controversial one.
Austria could become a defining weekend
The Austrian Grand Prix may prove to be an important milestone in Ferrari’s season. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will both receive Ferrari’s upgraded power unit, giving the Scuderia another opportunity to reduce the performance gap to its closest rivals.
For Lewis Hamilton, Spielberg has historically produced mixed results, making this weekend an important test of both his current form and Ferrari’s latest technical package. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, will be eager to bounce back after recent disappointments and demonstrate that he remains firmly in the championship conversation.
If the Briton can continue his winning momentum while Charles Leclerc struggles to respond, the debate surrounding Ferrari’s driver hierarchy is likely to intensify before the British Grand Prix. On the other hand, a strong result from Charles Leclerc would reinforce Guenther Steiner’s belief that Ferrari should continue supporting both drivers equally for as long as possible.
Ferrari’s biggest decision may still lie ahead
For now, Ferrari finds itself in the enviable position of having two elite drivers capable of fighting near the front of the field. While Lewis Hamilton’s recent performances have naturally shifted much of the spotlight onto his title challenge, Charles Leclerc remains an integral part of the Scuderia’s ambitions.
As the 2026 Formula 1 season progresses, Fred Vasseur may eventually have to make a difficult decision over whether to fully back one driver. According to Guenther Steiner, however, that moment has not yet arrived, and Ferrari’s smartest strategy is to let Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc continue battling on equal terms while the championship picture continues to develop.
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