Steiner questions Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles after Dutch GP crash – Guenther Steiner, the outspoken former Haas Formula One team principal, has given his view on Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari and the pressure the seven-time world champion is now facing. Speaking as a guest on GPblog’s F1 Vandaag podcast, Steiner reflected on Hamilton’s crash at the Dutch Grand Prix, describing it as strange and emblematic of deeper issues.

The incident occurred during the opening stint at Zandvoort, where Hamilton was attempting to chase his former team mate George Russell. Hamilton lost control and slid into the barriers, ending his race prematurely. For Steiner, the crash was not only surprising but also a sign that Hamilton might be dealing with more pressure than ever before in his career.

 

A rare error from a consistent champion

Steiner admitted that even with his long experience in motorsport, Hamilton’s mistake caught him off guard. “Normally Lewis makes the fewest errors. That is how he has won so many championships, he has always been consistent,” Steiner noted. The Zandvoort crash therefore stood out. “I do not know, is it pressure? Whatever it was, it was a strange mistake in my opinion. It was very odd how it happened.”

Hamilton’s trademark over the past decade has been his ability to maintain focus and composure under pressure, often delivering flawless weekends. For that reason, moments like Zandvoort feel out of character and raise questions about whether Ferrari’s environment, expectations, and internal competition are taking a toll.

 

The Ferrari factor and Leclerc pressure

Steiner pointed to Ferrari’s internal dynamics as part of the explanation. Hamilton’s arrival was supposed to create a superteam, yet Charles Leclerc has consistently had the upper hand this season. “There is now pressure at Ferrari, because he is always being beaten by Charles,” Steiner remarked.

The reality is that Ferrari has been building around Leclerc for several years. While the car has shown flashes of competitiveness, it has also been unpredictable, and the team has frequently found itself caught between strategy gambles and outright mistakes. Hamilton, accustomed to the stability and dominance of his Mercedes era, has been adjusting to a new environment where nothing is guaranteed.

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The hype of Hamilton to Ferrari

When Hamilton’s move was announced last year, the reaction across the sport was euphoric. Fans and commentators saw the prospect of a fairytale: the most successful driver of the modern era joining Formula One’s most historic and romantic team. “I think the cause of all this is that when the announcement came last year, the hype was so big,” Steiner explained. “We all believed blindly, you know. I also said, ‘the seven-time world champion is going to Ferrari!’ The team, at that time, was improving. They did very well in the second half of last season, one of their best in recent years.”

That optimism created an atmosphere of inevitability, as though Hamilton would immediately transform Ferrari into title contenders. Instead, the reality has been more complicated. Hamilton has struggled to adapt to the SF-24, Ferrari’s pace has fluctuated, and the dream of an instant turnaround has not materialised.

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Disappointment versus expectation

Steiner described the situation bluntly. “There is Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari, bringing world championships to Ferrari, winning his eighth title. And then, in the end, it does not happen.”

The disappointment is not only Hamilton’s but also Ferrari’s and the wider Formula One community’s. Fans expected a spectacle, yet instead they have watched Hamilton wrestle with a difficult car while his team mate often delivers the stronger results. Even at Zandvoort, Hamilton was only just closing in on Leclerc before his crash ended the race. Later, Leclerc retired as well, though Ferrari stated that incident was not his fault.

 

The wider question

For Steiner, Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter is now a test of resilience. Can the seven-time champion rediscover the consistency that made him the dominant force of his era, or will the weight of expectation and the reality of Ferrari’s situation continue to hold him back?

F1 fans have long debated whether Hamilton’s eighth title is still possible, and Steiner’s words add fuel to the discussion. Formula One has a way of exposing even its greatest drivers when circumstances shift, and Hamilton may now be facing the toughest phase of his glittering career.

 

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