Steiner: Leclerc Must Learn From Hamilton's Assertive Mindset at Ferrari

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says Charles Leclerc needs to copy more than just Lewis Hamilton's car setup at Ferrari — he needs to adopt his teammate's assertive mentality. Following Hamilton's recent Spanish Grand Prix victory for the Scuderia, Steiner argued that Leclerc must study how the seven-time champion fights for his way within the team, not just focus on telemetry data.

Why it matters:

Leclerc has the raw pace, but Hamilton's arrival has raised the bar for internal influence at Maranello. Steiner believes the Monegasque lacks the mental stubbornness to consistently push back against the team, a weakness reflected in the championship gap — Hamilton sits second with 115 points while Leclerc is fourth on 75.

The details:

• On The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner highlighted Monaco as proof Leclerc is watching Hamilton closely, noting he immediately demanded the same brake specification Hamilton had used. "He said, 'I want what Lewis had on his car,'" Steiner recalled, explaining it gave Leclerc confidence to follow Hamilton's technical lead.
• Steiner insists the lesson extends beyond parts and setups. He says the Ferrari's balance is sound, meaning Leclerc's deficit is primarily mental — specifically, how Hamilton handles disputes with engineers and trusts his own judgment over the team's initial preferences.
• The former Haas boss cited Hamilton's brake change as the defining case: Ferrari engineers initially talked Hamilton out of switching, yet he held firm and ultimately forced the change that suited him. Steiner added that Leclerc must learn to "stand my point" in the same way.

What's next:

With a long-term contract in his pocket, Leclerc has the security to challenge Ferrari's direction without alienating the garage. The question is whether he can internalize Hamilton's psychological playbook quickly enough to turn institutional goodwill into on-track authority and close the points gap before the championship fight slips further away.