Ferrari left the Austrian Grand Prix with more than just concerns about race pace and tyre degradation. An intense early battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has also reignited the debate over how much freedom the Scuderia should give its drivers when racing each other.
Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson believes the opening-lap duel between Ferrari’s two stars pushed the limits of what any team principal would comfortably accept, particularly given how closely the two SF-26s came to making significant contact.
Lewis Hamilton eventually finished fifth after recovering from Ferrari’s difficult race, while Charles Leclerc crossed the line eighth following an afternoon heavily affected by tyre degradation and balance issues. However, before either driver’s race unfolded, the opening lap delivered one of the most aggressive intra-team battles seen this season.
An intense Ferrari battle unfolded away from the live broadcast
Reviewing footage that was not shown during the race broadcast, Anthony Davidson identified several moments where Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc appeared to come within millimetres of each other.
According to the former Grand Prix driver, the pair may even have made light contact on more than one occasion during their fight through the opening corners.
Charles Leclerc defended his position firmly as Lewis Hamilton attempted to move into second place, refusing to concede until the move became unavoidable. The Monegasque continued to hold the outside line through an increasingly narrow gap approaching Turn 6, demonstrating just how determined both Ferrari drivers were to gain the upper hand.
Anthony Davidson reportedly observed that the Ferrari cars came extremely close when the Briton’s left-front wheel approached the Monegasques right-rear tyre, believing there may have been slight contact only a handful of corners after the start.
He also noted another moment on the exit of Turn 4 where the cars again appeared to touch before highlighting just how little room separated them through Turn 5. From his perspective, the battle had already become uncomfortable viewing and represented exactly the type of situation that would concern any team principal managing two championship-calibre drivers.
Ferrari’s philosophy allows both drivers to race
The incident also provided another insight into Ferrari’s current philosophy regarding its driver pairing.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, some observers suggested Ferrari should begin prioritising the seven-time world champion if it wanted to maximise its chances of challenging Mercedes in the Drivers’ Championship.
Instead, Austria demonstrated that Ferrari continues to allow both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to compete on equal terms whenever circumstances permit.
Although Charles Leclerc has shown during previous Grands Prix that he is prepared to cooperate when it clearly benefits the team’s overall result, the opening lap at the Red Bull Ring suggested neither Ferrari driver has been asked to adopt a supporting role.
Both drivers raced each other aggressively yet fairly, with neither willing to surrender track position without a fight.
A delicate balance for Frédéric Vasseur
Managing two elite Formula 1 drivers has always been one of the most difficult challenges facing any team principal, and Ferrari now finds itself walking a delicate line.
Allowing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to race freely maintains a healthy competitive environment and ensures neither driver feels disadvantaged. At the same time, unnecessary risks between teammates can quickly undermine a race weekend, particularly when every championship point could prove decisive later in the season.
The Austrian Grand Prix ultimately highlighted that balancing those competing priorities will become increasingly important as Ferrari continues its pursuit of Mercedes. The Scuderia already faces significant technical challenges involving tyre degradation, race strategy and power unit performance, meaning the last thing it needs is internal battles compromising valuable results.
For now, there is no indication that Ferrari intends to introduce team orders or designate a clear number-one driver. However, if Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remain closely matched throughout the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Frédéric Vasseur may eventually have to decide whether complete racing freedom continues to serve the team’s championship ambitions.
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