Ferrari needs to set clear rules between its drivers and, according to Guenther Steiner, prioritize Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc if it wants to remain in the fight for the Formula 1 title in 2026.
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The former Haas boss believes the Italian team should have established before the Dutch GP how its drivers should act in internal battle situations. In Zandvoort, Hamilton had newer tires and a better pace but got stuck behind Leclerc, a situation that led to complaints from the seven-time world champion over the radio.
During an appearance on The Red Flags podcast, Steiner stated that team orders cannot be set during the race and need to be agreed upon beforehand. For him, the current championship situation should weigh on Ferrari’s decision about which driver to prioritize.
“You cannot implement team orders during a race. You need to agree on them beforehand. The realistic question is: Can Charles really win the world championship? Maybe not. And who is ahead? Lewis. If one of the two can win, it’s Lewis. If you want to win, you need to bet on the driver who has the best chances. That is the driver who is ahead, who has more points,” he assessed.
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In the view of the former Haas boss, it is up to Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur to lead this conversation with Leclerc and establish the necessary hierarchy. Steiner also dismissed the need for direct intervention from John Elkann, Ferrari’s president, in managing the drivers.
“Fred, that’s his job. I don’t think John Elkann should or would get involved in this, because if he steps into this matter, at this moment he needs to lead the team. But I think Fred is very much in control of this, because Fred needs to win a world championship,” he continued.
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