Ex-Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has expressed concern over Lewis Hamilton‘s potential dip in confidence following a challenging start with Ferrari in 2025. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marked Hamilton’s most disappointing weekend in Ferrari colors, with the renowned driver finishing over 30 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc. Hamilton ended the race seventh, while Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of the year.
Hamilton, visibly disheartened, admitted after the race that there is no easy solution to his performance issues. Steiner, who led Haas between 2016 and 2023, shared his thoughts on Hamilton’s struggles. Speaking to The Red Flags Podcast, he remarked, “It is slowly becoming a concern in my opinion. I’m more concerned about what he thinks about when he’s asking about where I lose time. Jeez, the engineer can tell you where you’re losing time but, for sure, he can’t make you understand why you’re losing it. That’s down to you. And the worst thing would be if Lewis is losing his confidence, because then it will be a backwards race.”
Hamilton is eager to ensure that his performance deficit to Leclerc in Saudi Arabia was merely a one-time occurrence. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has historically been a challenging venue for Hamilton since the advent of the ‘ground effect’ era. Notably, he never out-qualified his former teammate George Russell during their three years together at this circuit. Meanwhile, Leclerc has demonstrated strong performances on street circuits.
The Miami Grand Prix emerges as a pivotal opportunity for Hamilton to regain his confidence ahead of the European season. Ferrari doesn’t anticipate introducing upgrades before the race at Imola, meaning the different track conditions could play to Hamilton’s strengths. The recent Chinese Grand Prix, another sprint weekend like Miami, saw Hamilton at his most competitive yet, claiming pole in sprint qualifying and triumphing in the sprint race. He successfully out-qualified Leclerc across two sessions at the Shanghai International Circuit.
As Hamilton navigates the complexities of his new team environment, many eyes are fixed on his potential to overcome early challenges. Fans and analysts alike are keenly observing his progress, eager to see whether the seven-time world champion can restore his form and elevate Ferrari to new heights. While uncertainties loom, Hamilton’s determination to address performance gaps suggests that the upcoming races will be critical in shaping his Ferrari journey for the season ahead.
