Steiner urges Ferrari to make Hamilton number one over Leclerc in title fight

Guenther Steiner has called on Ferrari to formally designate Lewis Hamilton as their number-one driver, warning that the team’s failure to agree team orders ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort has already cost them precious points in the 2026 title fight.

Ferrari’s internal dynamic came under scrutiny at Zandvoort after contrasting strategies created friction between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Hamilton, running on fresher tyres and showing stronger pace, was held up behind his team-mate, prompting frustrated radio complaints from the seven-time champion.

Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner — who ran the Haas team for a decade — argued that the episode exposed a fundamental failure of preparation. “You cannot implement team orders during a race,” he said. “You need to agree them beforehand. The realistic thing is, can Charles really win the world championship? Maybe not. And who is in front? Lewis.”

Steiner was unambiguous about where the logic points. “I haven’t done the calculations of how realistic it is for him to win the world championship, but if one of the two can win, it is Lewis. So, as somebody else has shown, if you want to win, it’s very tight up front there. You need to put your money on the guy who has got the better chance.”

He outlined how he believes the message should be delivered to Leclerc. “That’s the guy in front, who has got more points, and that is the only selling point to Charles. ‘Hey buddy, your team-mate has done better up to now. Now he’s number one.’”

Steiner placed the responsibility squarely on team principal Fred Vasseur to have that difficult conversation, dismissing any suggestion that Ferrari chairman John Elkann should intervene. “Fred, that is his job,” he said. “I don’t think John Elkann should or would get involved in it because if he gets involved in that one at that stage, he needs to run the team. But I think Fred is very much in control of it because Fred needs to win a world championship.”