 Solution

Let $d=|f^{\prime }(a_0)|>0$ and $q_0=|f(a_0)|/d^2<1$. At any step before reaching a root, setAssuming inductively that $|f^{\prime }(a_i)|=d$ and $q_i=|f(a_i)|/d^2<1$, this givesAll derivatives of a polynomial over $R$ are integral on $R$, so $d\le 1$. Hence $|h_i|<1$, and the ultrametric inequality keeps $a_{i+1}$ in $R$. If a root is reached, retain that value for subsequent terms, and the asserted weak step inequality still holds.