Lewis Hamilton’s request about the Charles Leclerc situation with Ferrari was turned down, and new details from the crisis meeting have come out.
Ferrari F1 boss Frederic Vasseur is trying to ease tensions between his drivers, but fresh reports from Italy suggest there’s an ongoing power struggle within the team.
Lewis Hamilton’s strong comments in the media seem to be part of a bigger plan to change Ferrari’s driver hierarchy and make himself the clear team leader. With the F1 cars heading to Brazil’s Interlagos for the Sao Paulo GP this weekend, the story just gets more interesting.
After a heated clash on track in Mexico, Hamilton has openly criticized his teammate Charles Leclerc, both after that race and again in Brazil. “Sometimes you say things you might later regret. I don’t,” Hamilton said. “I won’t apologize for being honest and true to myself. Nobody told me to keep quiet, and I’m not going to.”
He also made a subtle jab at Leclerc’s time and success at Ferrari, pointing out, “Eight years – nine wins in the team,” which some see as Hamilton trying to prove he should be the number one driver at Ferrari.
Right now, Ferrari treats Hamilton and Leclerc as equal leaders, but the reports from Autoracer in Italy suggest Hamilton wants that to change—though so far, he hasn’t made much headway.
The report says, “There’s no change in the driver order, which fits with Ferrari’s current approach.” Both drivers are mainly competing for second place in the championship, so the team tries to treat them equally.
But Hamilton isn’t happy with this and thinks his lead in the standings since the season started should earn him higher priority. While Ferrari keeps both drivers equal, Hamilton wants his results to be reflected in how the team supports him.
Vasseur is working hard to keep things fair and keep the rivalry inside the track, without changing team rules or making one driver more important than the other. The main issue seems to be the tension this causes off the track.
Since Ferrari hasn’t changed its stance, Hamilton will have to keep making his point with his performance on race day, while Vasseur tries to keep the peace. He said in Brazil, “The guideline is still the same. They’re both starting every weekend side by side, which can build frustration. But the main rule is they must respect each other.”
He added, “They’re both fierce competitors, but respect is key—respect for each other, the team, and everyone working behind the scenes. We’re putting a lot of effort into this, and the message is clear.”
Still, if Ferrari fights for championships next year, this driver rivalry might flare up again.
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