Guenther Steiner outlines how Lewis Hamilton could ‘end up in the Vatican’ after joining Ferrari

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Lewis Hamilton has taken a risk by leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari. At 39, it’s likely the last big move he’ll make in his Formula 1 career.

Ferrari are above Mercedes in the championship this year, having outscored them by 441 points to 329. But that’s the kind of deficit that could feasibly be overturned this winter.

The Scuderia are close enough to McLaren and Red Bull that Charles Leclerc’s goal of challenging for the 2025 title is realistic. But Mercedes will say the same, particularly given the natural convergence in the final year of the ruleset.

It may be unfair to characterise Hamilton’s move as a sideways step. ‘Diagonal’ is more accurate, but he’s spent his entire career at British-based teams and will have to adapt to a new environment after 11 years with Mercedes, up against a deeply embedded driver like Leclerc.

Already this season, some have asked questions. The F1 paddock widely questioned Hamilton’s decision after Mercedes won three out of four races before the summer break, though those comments have died down given their disappointing performances since.

Still, the 2026 regulation changes are on the horizon and Mercedes are widely expected to have the best engine. Hamilton is effectively betting against the Brixworth facility that furnished him with a dominant machine between 2014 and 2020.

Guenther Steiner says Lewis Hamilton can bring ‘magic’ back to Ferrari

Hamilton believes he has the best chance of winning an unprecedented eighth world championship at Ferrari, and he’ll fulfil a long-term dream in the process. Meanwhile, his new team principal Fred Vasseur sees him as the man who can end Ferrari’s championship drought.

Ferrari haven’t won the constructors’ title since 2008, which means they’re about to match their 1983-1999 drought. Their last drivers’ title came a year earlier through Kimi Raikkonen.

Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Guenther Steiner suggested this would give Hamilton extra motivation. He knows he could establish himself as one of Ferrari’s greats if he ends their wait.

Steiner said: “He’s already leaving a legacy in the sport. I think he wants to try to do the magic to bring Ferrari back to winning championships.

“I think that is his drive. I haven’t spoken with him about it. But I can see his motivation to go there – ‘I’m a GOAT anyway, I’ve won seven championships, what more can I do?’.

“At Mercedes, maybe I can win my eighth there if I do a good job. But Ferrari, if I win my eighth and win a championship for Ferrari, the guy will end up in the Vatican.”

Why Guenther Steiner thinks Max Verstappen has the edge over Lewis Hamilton

Much as Steiner has backed Hamilton to challenge for another title at Ferrari, he thinks he’s no longer the best driver on the grid. That honour now belongs to Max Verstappen.

Steiner rates Verstappen above Hamilton because of his greater ‘drive’, though the latter may appear more motivated in his new surroundings. He could become the first driver since Juan Manuel Fangio to win the title with more than two different teams.

Hamilton will have to wait until 2025 to test for Ferrari, rather than making his first appearance in the post-season Abu Dhabi test. Mercedes say he has contractual commitments to carry out after the racing has concluded.

Formula 1 has already seen huge growth in recent years, fuelled by Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ series. The biggest driver transfer in the sport’s history could generate yet more interest from next year.