Several F1 personalities, including former team principals, urge Ferrari to throw its full weight behind Lewis Hamilton's championship chase.
Through 12 races, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is tied with Mercedes' George Russell for 2nd in the Drivers' Standings. Both of them are chasing Kimi Antonelli, who is leading the championship by 59 points.
With at least 10 races to go, overcoming that 59-point deficit is very doable. But Ferrari should make a decision quickly, possibly during their upcoming home race at Monza.
During an appearance on The Red Flags Podcast, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner hinted that Hamilton only has a small window to close in on Antonelli. So, Ferrari must fully support Hamilton's race from this point on.
This means making the call to the other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, to possibly let Hamilton pass instead of racing him. Or have Leclerc defend and slow down other drivers when he's behind his teammate.
The Dutch Grand Prix fiasco
It's not just Steiner who is calling for Ferrari to prioritize the seven-time World Champion.
Former Aston Martin and Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer shifted perspectives recently, saying that Ferrari should have swapped Hamilton and Leclerc during the Dutch Grand Prix. It was obvious that Hamilton, with fresher tyres at the latter stages of the race, was quicker than Leclerc.
However, the team didn't make the call. Leclerc would pit later on, freeing Hamilton into clear air. But it was too late, and both Ferrari drivers missed out on a podium finish.
Hamilton was obviously frustrated, speaking his feelings on the team radio, even saying that the team wasted so much time.
Szafnauer went on to say that the drivers' championship has always been "more meaningful" than the constructors'. So, it's just right for Ferrari to focus on supporting Hamilton.
Former F1 champion urges Ferrari to make the call
Back in June, former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve said that Ferrari's only chance of winning is to prioritize Hamilton. That was after Hamilton won in Barcelona, his first race win as a Ferrari driver.
But will the Maranello-based outfit make the call? The team has long been very supportive of Leclerc, who is dubbed "Ferrari's favorite child." However, the Monegasque driver is trailing his teammate by 28 points, and crucially, 87 points behind the championship. By this point, we might not have a shot at the championship.
With Mercedes still the more balanced car and McLaren improving their pace every weekend, Leclerc might have to put himself aside and help his teammate get closer in the championship.
