Steiner: 'Lewis wouldn't have left Mercedes if Fred wasn't at Ferrari'

Former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner shares why he believes Lewis Hamilton made the decision to leave Mercedes and head to Ferrari for 2025. Steiner outlines that Hamilton and Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur have a "very good relationship."

Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes at the end of the season

Following the shock announcement in February, it was confirmed that Hamilton will leave the German team at the end of 2024, and make the move to the Italian team in 2025, ahead of the regulation changes in 2026. Commenting on why he believes Hamilton made the decision to leave the Silver Arrows, Steiner said: "They [Hamilton and Vasseur] know each other very well, this is part of the reason why Lewis ended up at Ferrari."

"They've got a very good relationship and I do not think that Lewis would have left Mercedes if Fred would not have been at Ferrari." He added: "I think that will be very easy for both of them," Steiner said on the Nailing the Apex podcast.

Hamilton will be paired with current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and is replacing Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, who is still without a seat for 2025. 

Hamilton and Vasseur's relationship

Hamilton has known Vasseur for many years, having driven for the Frenchman's ASM F3 team in 2005, and winning the European title. The following year, he drove GP2 with the rebranded ART GP, again winning the championship with Vasseur. He then made the move into Formula 1 with McLaren.

Speaking on whether it could become an issue if Ferrari struggles next season, Steiner shared: "Obviously the issue could come up if they don't have success... but I think they've been there before and I think they've got a good chance to sort the problem out."