Guenther Steiner, the former head of Haas, has indicated that Ferrari might regret replacing Carlos Sainz with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Sainz left Ferrari after four seasons and signed a multi-year deal with Williams, where he recently secured his first podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Steiner’s comments came during a detailed discussion on The Red Flags Podcast, where he assessed Ferrari’s current situation and driver lineup.
Steiner Points to Performance Gap Between Sainz and Hamilton
During the podcast, Steiner was asked if Ferrari’s management could possibly regret their decision to bring Hamilton in place of Sainz. He replied,
“I think some people in the team do,”
while adding that the official management likely would not admit regret as it could imply a mistake was made. Steiner highlighted Ferrari’s disappointing eighth and ninth place finishes in Baku, contrasting that with Sainz’s strong third-place result driving for Williams.
He further remarked,
“Carlos Sainz, now with Williams, finished third, so it’s like, I guess the guy feeling best about it is Carlos Sainz.”
Steiner elaborated on the impact of this switch by stating that while Sainz was a reliable and known quantity, Hamilton’s initial performance issues and the unrest he brings within the team may have distracted from focusing solely on improving race performance. He added,
“They wouldn’t have all the interference from outside of Lewis not performing, so the team could focus on going racing, making things better, instead of always trying to find out why Lewis doesn’t like the car.”
The Financial and Team Dynamics Considerations Involved
Steiner also pointed out the financial implications of the driver change, suggesting that Hamilton’s cost to the team is likely much higher than Sainz’s. He said,
Image of: Carlos Sainz
“Also, the investment money-wise, I’m pretty sure it’s a lot higher with Lewis than with Carlos.”
Steiner acknowledged his respect for Hamilton but questioned whether the investment was worthwhile given the unrest within the team caused by the Briton’s adjustment period.
Hamilton’s Ongoing Struggles with Ferrari This Season
Although Hamilton won the Chinesesprint race for Ferrari, he has yet to achieve a podium finish in a grand prix with the team this season. His highest placements have been fourth at the Emilia-Romagna, Austrian, and British Grands Prix. Meanwhile, Sainz’s success with Williams marks a clear contrast, adding fuel to the perception that the driver replacement may have negatively affected Ferrari’s results.
Potential Impact on Ferrari’s Strategy Moving Forward
The comments from Steiner highlight possible internal tensions within Ferrari following their driver lineup changes. While Hamilton remains a highly accomplished driver, his current struggles suggest the team may face a challenging transition period. For Ferrari, reassessing their driver strategy and balancing financial, performance, and team cohesion factors will be critical as they aim to improve results in the remainder of the season.
