Ex-F1 Team Boss Exposes ‘Conflict’ Between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari

Guenther Steiner believes that there is a conflict between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari as the two entities are very popular outside F1 as well.

Ex-F1 Team Boss Exposes ‘Conflict’ Between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton (via Ferrari)

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Lewis Hamilton‘s debut season at Ferrari has been extremely dismal. The Briton has given it his all to improve his on-track performance with the mediocre car of the Italian squad. However, Hamilton is rendered unable to achieve even a podium finish in the first 12 outings this year. Now, former F1 team boss Guenther Steiner weighs in on the ongoing conflicts between the Scuderia and the 40-year-old.

Lewis Hamilton‘s transition to Ferrari has been very difficult for him as he accepted missing his former team Mercedes after seeing the struggles this year. While the 40-year-old has remained vocal about the issues he’s facing at Maranello, he is ready to rebuild himself and work hard to win with the Italian squad. The seven-time champion has already written off his chances in the 2025 season and is now looking forward to being a winning force in the new regulations of the 2026 season.

Guenther Steiner believes that Lewis Hamilton’s lack of trust in Ferrari stems from multiple aspects. Hamilton has already had a verbal spat with his race engineer Ricciardo Adami on a couple of occasions. Steiner reckoned that the 40-year-old is the only driver who is above any team in Formula 1. This meant that the seven-time champion is not only a notable figure in the sport, but outside as well.

I think in Formula 1, the only one above a team is Lewis Hamilton. His presence, his stature, it is very big. Outside of the sport as well. You’re big in the sport, but then when you get big outside of the sport, you’re bigger than the actual team.

Guenther Steiner said on the Business of Sport podcast

Ferrari is the most iconic team in Formula 1, as the love and passion for them remains unmatched. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is also one of the most loved, if not the most loved, drivers in the pinnacle of motorsports. Because of this, Guenther Steiner reckons that there is a conflict between the two ‘huge brands’ in the sport. Although Hamilton joining the Scuderia is great for the sport, the two entities need to manage expectations from one another.

I think we see it now with Lewis at Ferrari, they are two huge brands together and it’s almost sometimes a conflict.

Guenther Steiner added

Guenther Steiner compares Lewis Hamilton’s popularity with Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are often compared with one another due to their fierce racing attitude. Both drivers push each other on track and put forth some great racing moments. However, Hamilton’s overall popularity as a person trumps Verstappen’s due to the latter being uninterested in activities outside of Formula 1. Guenther Steiner reveals the key difference between the popularity of both drivers despite them being better than the rest of the grid in racing talent.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (via Getty)
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (via Getty)

Guenther Steiner pointed out that Max Verstappen is a very big entity concerning Formula 1. However, he isn’t that popular outside of the sport, as his life is mainly racing cars and participating in various motorsports during his off-time. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is a man of many interests, as he even released a clothing collection with Dior recently. As such, the 40-year-old wants to achieve even more outside of the sport, as Verstappen doesn’t bother doing as much.

I think Max is very big in the sport, but he doesn’t work on being somebody outside of the sport, because for him, his life is racing cars, while Lewis has got another thing as well what he wants to achieve in life.

Guenther Steiner noted

Lewis Hamilton is way off in the distance in the standings for the drivers’ championship lead. The Briton is currently adrift of the championship lead by an astonishing gap of 131 points. As such, the 2025 drivers’ title might already be impossible to achieve for Hamilton. Regardless, the seven-time champion will work hard with the engineers and hope to come back as a dominating force as early as the 2026 season.

Read More: James Vowles Gives ‘Zero Doubt’ Verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s Dismal Ferrari Campaign