Ferrari is grappling with "enormous pressure" in the 2025 season, asserts former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner.
Despite securing the Shanghai sprint from pole, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton sits ninth in the drivers' standings—still ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.
Yet, following lofty pre-season expectations, Ferrari faced a harsh reality in China when both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified for two distinct technical violations. "The team is under enormous pressure, mainly because of Lewis," Steiner told Speed Week. "Whatever happens, he is the centre of attention.
"But when they signed him, Ferrari must have known what they were getting into."
The financial rewards of Hamilton's arrival are at least evident for the storied Maranello outfit, with Puma noting an eight-fold surge in merchandise sales compared to last year's equivalent period. "A large portion of this revenue goes directly back to Ferrari via licensing fees," said Tobias Gruner of Auto Motor und Sport. "This likely recoups a significant portion of the driver's salary, estimated at over 50 million euros."
Steiner points to a contrasting dynamic at Mercedes. "Even without Hamilton, Mercedes is performing well," he said, "but now the drivers are almost invisible to the public. The press is much more interested in Ferrari and Hamilton than Mercedes, although Mercedes is currently performing better.
"All this once again speaks of the magnetic attraction of Hamilton's personality, which stands out even against the general background of Ferrari."
Davide Valsecchi, an Italian ex-racer turned TV analyst, agreed in Corriere dello Sport: "Everyone is talking about Lewis—his passion for pizza or his Gianni Agnelli-style jackets.
"But that puts Charles under much less pressure, as he is no longer considered the chosen one of destiny. But in the second half of last season, he performed more consistently than ever.
"If I were a betting man," Valsecchi added, "I'd say the current breakdown is (Lando) Norris, Leclerc, (Max) Verstappen and then Hamilton."
