Steiner: Managing Hamilton & Leclerc won’t be easy

Former Haas boss weighs in as Ferrari aims for championship with star-studded lineup

Ferrari's 2025 driver pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc presents a fascinating dynamic that will require careful management.

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur will face "hard decisions" despite having positive relationships with both drivers.

Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari after leaving Mercedes has created one of the most anticipated teammate battles in recent Formula 1 history.

The seven-time world champion joins the Maranello outfit alongside Leclerc, who has established himself as Ferrari's homegrown talent and future hope.

Shared history builds foundation

Steiner highlighted the unique advantage Vasseur has in managing this potentially explosive partnership.

"Both of these drivers they drove for Fred's F2 and F3 teams, Lewis and Charles,"

Steiner told CNN.

"So he has got good relationships in person. That's for both of them."

This shared history creates a foundation of mutual respect that could prove crucial. Steiner elaborated on this dynamic, noting the special connection between the drivers and their team principal.

"They have respect for Fred because without Fred they wouldn't be where they are. So that is a good place to be," Steiner explained.

Leadership challenges ahead

Despite these positive relationships, Steiner acknowledges Vasseur will inevitably face difficult situations managing two championship-caliber drivers with their own ambitions.

"Obviously there will be times when Fred needs to take hard decisions. But I don't think he is afraid of it,"

Steiner added.

"I think he put himself in having these two drivers in good position to win a championship."

Ferrari Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari has attempted to frame the potential rivalry as beneficial, comparing it to dynamics seen in other sports.

"It's always been like that between team-mates, it's part of the game,"

Ferrari told Autosprint.

"In Charles' case there is also the generational discourse we are witnessing in tennis with Sinner and other youngsters: the freshness of the young against the experience and solidity of those who are many years older."

Positive pre-season signs

Early indications from pre-season testing in Bahrain suggest Ferrari has developed a competitive package for 2025. Hamilton expressed optimism after completing his testing program.

"I would say this is the most positive feeling that I've had in a long time," Hamilton told media on Friday.

Team principal Vasseur remained cautiously optimistic while acknowledging the variable conditions during testing make definitive conclusions difficult.

"Over the past six months, we have worked very hard on this car and have made a good improvement, but we will have to wait until we are all on track in Melbourne to understand where we are," Vasseur said.

The Ferrari boss concluded with a clear statement of intent for the season ahead:

"We want to fight for both championships, as we know we have two drivers who can do it, and the mood in the team is very positive."

As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see how this potentially championship-winning but politically challenging driver pairing develops under Vasseur's leadership.