Steiner: Hamilton's presence shines ‘brutal’ spotlight on Ferrari

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes that Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari has thrust the Italian team into an unrelenting spotlight, describing the current level of attention on the Scuderia as “brutal”.

Hamilton’s move to Maranello for the 2025 season was always expected to elevate Ferrari’s profile, but his early results – a mix of triumph and tribulation – have intensified scrutiny on the iconic squad.

Steiner, however, believes Ferrari was fully aware of the media frenzy Hamilton’s star power would ignite, even as the team navigates a rocky start to its high-profile partnership witthe seven-time world champion.

A Spotlight Ignited by Hamilton’s Arrival

Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari has been a mixed bag. After scoring just a single point in F1’s opening race in Australia, the Briton secured a dominant sprint race victory in Shanghai, marking an early success in red.

However, this triumph was quickly overshadowed by his disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix due to excessive plank wear on his SF-25, a fate also suffered by teammate Charles Leclerc but for crossing the checkered flag at the wheel of an underweight car.

For a driver of Hamilton’s caliber – boasting 105 career wins – his early underwhelming tally has raised eyebrows and fueled debate about Ferrari’s being under pressure.

It’s bene suggested that the Italian outfit might be overreaching in its bid to succeed with Hamilton, but Steiner dismisses this notion.

Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, he offered a candid take on the situation, arguing that the team’s struggles are rooted in execution rather than desperation.

“I don’t think there’s a desperation set in, I think they just want to do a job and got a few things [wrong],” Steiner said. For him, the real story lies not in Ferrari’s missteps, but in the extraordinary attention Hamilton commands.

Hamilton, a Brutal Attention Magnet

Steiner, known for his no-nonsense perspective from his time at Haas, highlighted the unparalleled focus Hamilton brings to Ferrari.

“The pressure is high. You see, as soon as he does something, how he catches the attention of everyone, right?” he observed. “It’s something brutal. It’s Lewis Hamilton.

“But I would think Ferrari knew when they took him what would happen, you attract attention.”

The extraordinary level of scrutiny, Steiner contends, is a natural byproduct of Hamilton’s celebrity status – a phenomenon Ferrari anticipated when they signed him.

Whether it’s a sprint win or a disqualification, Hamilton’s every move dominates headlines, amplifying both Ferrari’s highs and lows. Steiner sees this as an inherent trait of the 40-year-old Briton, whose star power transcends the sport.

A Contrast with Mercedes’ Quiet Progress

To illustrate Hamilton’s impact, Steiner drew a comparison with Mercedes, Hamilton’s former team, which has so far enjoyed a solid but less-noticed 2025 campaign.

“Look at, for example, Mercedes now. I think Mercedes is doing a good job this year, obviously they are not beating McLaren, but nobody knows about it. It’s very unseen,” he noted.

“You see more from Ferrari and Lewis’ performance, than the better performance of Mercedes. Because, it’s not Lewis Hamilton. Lewis attracts [attention], he’s a star. He is, so people are attracted to him.”

Mercedes’ steady progress has indeed flown under the radar, overshadowed by the Hamilton-Ferrari saga. Steiner’s point is clear: the F1 veteran’s presence at Ferrari doesn’t just elevate the team’s visibility – it drowns out others, even when their results might merit more discussion.

This dynamic, he argues, is precisely what Ferrari signed up for when they brought the seven-time champion on board.

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