Guenther Steiner explains Lewis Hamilton’s confidence points since becoming a member of Ferrari

Guenther Steiner reveals why Lewis Hamilton is struggling to seek out confidence at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s extremely anticipated debut season with Scuderia Ferrari has not gone in response to plan. Because the 2025 Method 1 marketing campaign approaches its closing stretch, the seven-time world champion faces the true risk of ending his first yr in purple with out stepping onto a Grand Prix podium — a state of affairs few might have imagined when his transfer from Mercedes was introduced.

Regardless of flashes of competitiveness, Lewis Hamilton’s partnership with Ferrari has but to provide the outcomes either side had hoped for. If his kind doesn’t drastically enhance within the remaining six rounds, Hamilton would be a part of a uncommon and unenviable group — changing into solely the fifth driver since 1980 to finish a full season with Ferrari with out scoring a podium end. All 5 of the staff’s podiums in 2025 have been delivered by Charles Leclerc, whereas Hamilton’s solely spotlight got here within the Dash Race in China, the place his victory was overshadowed by Ferrari’s subsequent double disqualification on Sunday.

The British driver’s frustrations mirror the challenges confronted by Leclerc, as Ferrari’s SF-25 has struggled to compete with the likes of Crimson Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes. Even when alternatives appeared, resembling Leclerc’s robust efficiency on the Hungarian Grand Prix, mechanical inconsistencies and unpredictable tyre degradation dashed Ferrari’s hopes of victory.

Over the course of the season, Lewis Hamilton’s tone in media appearances has shifted — reflecting rising frustration with the staff’s ongoing struggles. But, the efficiency curve has remained flat, and a transparent sample of underachievement has taken maintain. Many throughout the paddock have speculated that Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties stem not solely from adapting to a brand new staff but additionally from deeper technical points affecting his driving confidence.

Guenther Steiner’s principle on Hamilton’s lack of confidence

Former Haas staff principal Guenther Steiner lately supplied his perspective on Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation issues. Talking on The Crimson Flags Podcast, Steiner urged that Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties could be carefully linked to Ferrari’s braking system — a element very important to a driver’s confidence and precision.

He identified that Hamilton’s disappointing outcome on the Singapore Grand Prix — the place he was working in fifth place earlier than a sudden brake failure dropped him to eighth — highlighted an ongoing situation. In line with Steiner, such reliability considerations would inevitably erode a driver’s sense of management and luxury behind the wheel.

Steiner famous that in current seasons Ferrari had not skilled frequent braking points, and he speculated that the change in driver and driving fashion might have contributed to the resurgence of such issues. He theorized that Hamilton, who had spent over a decade at Mercedes, would possibly nonetheless be struggling to adapt to Ferrari’s Brembo braking system, having used Carbon Industrie brakes all through his Mercedes profession. This swap, he urged, may very well be a key issue undermining Hamilton’s rhythm and confidence.

In Method 1, braking is without doubt one of the most important features of a driver’s interplay with the automobile. Any uncertainty in pedal really feel, chew level, or brake temperature administration can forestall a driver from pushing to absolutely the restrict. Steiner argued that with out full belief within the braking response, even essentially the most proficient drivers will subconsciously maintain again — an issue that might clarify Hamilton’s uncharacteristic lack of aggression and consistency this yr.

Ferrari’s brake design may very well be limiting one in all Hamilton’s biggest strengths

From the outset of the season, a lot dialogue surrounded the time Hamilton would wish to completely acclimatize to life at Ferrari. Past studying a brand new staff tradition, engineering philosophy, and automobile conduct, he additionally needed to modify to thoroughly totally different brake dynamics. Ferrari, identified for his or her long-standing partnership with Brembo, have historically designed their automobiles round these braking programs — even resisting solutions to experiment with different suppliers.

When experiences surfaced earlier this yr that Ferrari had evaluated the potential of switching brake producers, backlash from followers and purists rapidly adopted. The Italian marque’s reference to Brembo is deeply rooted in its racing heritage, and altering suppliers was seen as nearly sacrilegious. However, Lewis Hamilton’s Singapore failure reignited questions on whether or not Ferrari’s brake package deal is actually optimized for the staff’s present driver lineup.

Including to the complexity is the truth that Ferrari’s SF-25 options the smallest brake discs on the grid, a deliberate aerodynamic compromise aimed toward bettering airflow effectivity and decreasing drag. Nevertheless, this determination seems to have created unintended penalties. The smaller discs generate extra warmth and provide much less constant suggestions beneath high-stress braking — elements that may severely have an effect on a driver’s confidence, particularly one famend for late-braking mastery.

All through his profession, Lewis Hamilton has constructed a fame as one in all Method 1’s best under-brakers. His skill to modulate pedal strain and carry velocity into corners has been a cornerstone of his racing fashion, significantly throughout his peak Mercedes years. However the traits of Ferrari’s SF-25 have seemingly neutralized this power, leaving him unable to completely exploit one in all his biggest pure benefits.

With only a handful of races left in 2025, the Briton and Ferrari discover themselves in a scenario that neither anticipated. The Scuderia’s pursuit of aerodynamic beneficial properties seems to have compromised mechanical really feel, an space that straight impacts driver confidence and race efficiency. Except Ferrari can engineer a extra balanced package deal for 2026 — one which restores stability and predictability beneath braking — Hamilton’s first season with the staff could also be remembered as one in all frustration quite than triumph.

Regardless of the setbacks, insiders counsel that Lewis Hamilton stays dedicated to serving to Ferrari overcome its present limitations. Together with his huge expertise, technical suggestions, and relentless consideration to element, the British driver might but play a vital position in shaping the staff’s subsequent era of automobiles. For Ferrari, the problem now’s to offer a machine that enables their latest star to rediscover the arrogance and precision which have outlined his illustrious Method 1 profession.