Guenther Steiner, former team principal of Haas, has made a bold prediction regarding the 2026 Formula 1 season, suggesting that Charles Leclerc could surpass Lewis Hamilton in the championship fight. Despite Hamilton starting the season strong after a renewed personal focus and an important podium with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix, Steiner believes that Leclerc will have greater motivation to achieve the title.
In an interview on the The Red Flags podcast, Steiner was asked about the possibility of Hamilton defeating Leclerc. He responded that Leclerc’s youth will play a crucial role in his powerful success: “Charles has an advantage in terms of age,” he said. Furthermore, he emphasized that, although the competition is tight, Leclerc’s hunger for victory is superior.
Currently, after two races, Leclerc is in third place with 34 points, just one point ahead of Hamilton, who is fourth with 33 points. With the competitive landscape increasingly intensifying, the battle for supremacy between these two Ferrari drivers promises to be exciting for fans and the category itself.
Hamilton has been at the center of speculation about a possible retirement after a tough 2025 season, but the Briton has made it clear that he remains determined. In his words after preseason, he expressed gratitude to his team and communicated a renewed passion for competition: “I am fully prepared and here to compete with everything I have.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
