Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has delivered a firm message to his two feuding drivers, reminding Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that the interests of the Italian marque must always take priority. The directive came after a meeting at Interlagos on Friday, where the pair discussed their on-track clash at the Mexican Grand Prix the previous weekend.
A Clear and Unwavering Message
Speaking at a scheduled news conference following the opening practice session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Vasseur confirmed he had sat down with the seven-time world champion and his Monegasque teammate to address both their collision and their overall performance in Mexico City.
"The guidelines are always the same," Vasseur told reporters. "They are two competitors with a fighting spirit for sure, but they need to have respect for each other."
The Frenchman stressed that respect must extend beyond the cockpit. "Mainly, and firstly, they need to respect the brand, the team, the people working at home, the people working on track," he said. "I think we are putting a lot of effort on this and the message was clear, and will stay clear."
Fallout From Mexico City
The controversy stems from the opening lap in Mexico, where Hamilton, starting from his first pole position for Ferrari, tangled with Leclerc and ran off the circuit. The incident effectively ended the team's hopes of securing a victory that weekend.
Hamilton made no secret of his frustration afterward, arguing that his teammate had been overly aggressive. The British driver called for serious discussions and confirmed on Thursday that he remained unhappy, vowing not to stop speaking his mind on the matter. The two had not met face to face since the race, as Leclerc had returned to Monaco for the birth of his first child.
Vasseur Defends Leclerc's Racing Style
Vasseur pushed back against suggestions, raised by Hamilton and others, that Leclerc races more aggressively against his teammates than against rival drivers. He pointed to Leclerc's bold overtake on four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull in Texas as evidence of a consistent approach.
"If you have a look at what Charles did in Austin in the first sector, everybody said it was magic," Vasseur said. "The line is fine between the two, but he didn't crash into the other car."
Collective Failure Acknowledged
The Ferrari boss was candid about the team's shortcomings in Mexico, where they had locked out the front row but failed to convert that advantage into a win.
"For sure, in this situation, we failed collectively because we were one and two and we didn't win the race at the end," he admitted. "That means that it's clear that we failed and we have to react."
Yet the conclusion of Thursday evening's meeting, he said, reinforced a single principle. "The conclusion of the meeting yesterday evening was a clear reminder that the Ferrari is coming first, is coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the Tifosi, and this we have to keep it in mind."
With the championship battle intensifying, Ferrari will be hoping that unity off the track translates into results on it as the season moves through its final stretch.
