Steiner: Ferrari must put everything behind Hamilton and 'wait' for Antonelli mistakes

The 2026 Formula 1 championship battle is entering its decisive phase, and former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has just offered a controversial but logical verdict: Ferrari must abandon equal treatment between its two drivers and put all its resources behind Lewis Hamilton — the only one who can challenge the vision of young 'wild card' Andrea Kimi Antonelli leading the standings.

The 59-point gap – a brutal reality

Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian prodigy at Mercedes, currently leads the championship with a 59-point advantage over teammate George Russell. This is a genuine 'earthquake' of the transitional 2026 season: a rookie, only 19 years old, beating a top veteran driver like Russell by such a wide margin.

'That statistic tells me the Mercedes car is extremely strong in the hands of a young, hungry driver,' Steiner analyzed on The Red Flags podcast. But the Italian immediately saw the opportunity for the rival team. There is a gap. Antonelli is a big talent, but he is still young. He needs to make mistakes. It is part of growing up.

Steiner's pinpointing of a young driver's vulnerability is sharp. Unlike a matured Russell, the pressure of the final stretch of the season is an entirely foreign land to Antonelli. F1 does not forgive lapses in concentration, and a slip by the young leader could open the door for Hamilton.

With more than half the season still ahead, asking Hamilton to close a 59-point gap is a monumental, almost impossible challenge if he must continue sharing the number-one status with Charles Leclerc. Steiner emphasized that in this two-horse race, hesitation is Scuderia's biggest enemy.

Crucially, Hamilton cannot overcome all hurdles miraculously on his own. He is an outstanding driver, everyone sees that, but he needs a Ferrari team fighting for him 100%, not 80%.

Ferrari's internal battle: 'The number-one choice' is key

Steiner pointed out a harsh truth: Hamilton is outperforming Leclerc in the same car. This is an extremely important signal, shattering any doubts about whether the 'expensive contract' is justified.

'I think Fred Vasseur will have to act. There will come a time when you have to say, we must bet on one person,' Steiner asserted. He used the familiar 'papaya rules' term — the free-racing policy at McLaren — to compare and condemn the 'let the faster car pass' mentality.

'If you keep the 'Papaya Rules' style of racing while your opponent is pulling away by such a large margin, you will not win the championship. In a long battle, the 'support the number-one driver' strategy is mandatory, especially when you have Lewis Hamilton in the team.'

Historical lessons from 2026, when Ferrari was fined $100,000 for coded team orders ('Fernando is faster than you'), show the team orders rule has completely changed. In 2026, this is entirely legal and a clear tactical path.

Once Vasseur makes the decision, will Leclerc — a driver beloved by Italian fans — accept the 'number-two' role without causing internal unrest? This is a considerable psychological gamble for any team principal. But Steiner believes that, given the point situation and Hamilton's class this season, this is a 'cold' but necessary decision.

England and the dream of an 8th crown

Hamilton did not join Ferrari just for glory; he carries the dream of breaking the record to reach the 8th world championship — something no one has ever done in F1 history. 'Even an outsider like me feels the great moment this sport is holding on to,' Steiner confessed. 'If someone wins that 8th title, it will be a historic moment, not just for him but for the whole of England. It proves that greatness isn't about words, but about resilience.'

Interesting comparison: Hamilton and Russell are currently level on points. This implicitly confirms the top drivers' class is equal, while the Ferrari and Mercedes cars are also comparable. When that happens, the game lies in which team manages its internal affairs better, which team has a flawless strategy.

Motorsport history has witnessed many unbelievable comebacks. But they all stem from one core element: absolute focus on a single objective, and here, Steiner believes Ferrari has more than enough ability to do that, if they dare to place a bet on Hamilton.

'It would be a big mistake to let Leclerc and Hamilton race freely and then rob each other of the chance at a title just because of points that could rescue a championship,' Steiner concluded. 'The time to say goodbye to balance has arrived. And with Lewis Hamilton, England's greatness is something very much worth watching.'

He was also asked whether Hamilton could win the 8th title this year, and his answer was: 'Yes, but the chance is much smaller than people think. It only becomes possible when two prerequisites are met.' The first condition is Ferrari tightening its grip, channeling everything to Hamilton; the second is 'Antonelli making mistakes' — and that is the fulcrum that will decide everything.

A conclusion from an invisible data hunter

This 2026 season is a perfect illustration of how the numbers can be ripped apart by an earthquake named Kimi Antonelli. But after the shock of a long stretch of the season, the most pragmatic actions are what make the difference. Will Fred Vasseur dare to act decisively to 'clear the path' for Hamilton after the summer break? Can the young Italian avoid slips to make history in his debut season?

The answer lies not on the track, but inside the meeting rooms of two formidable teams from Italy and Germany. Nước Anh không tầm thường, chỉ là họ giấu sự vĩ đại dưới lớp áo hoài nghi. And with a hungry Lewis Hamilton, fans can only hope that this year, that cloak will be removed to reveal a masterpiece named the 8th title.