Charles Leclerc has rejected suggestions of tension with Lewis Hamilton after another close encounter between the Ferrari team-mates at Monza, insisting that they are not against each other. The Monegasque driver addressed the growing discussion after the Italian Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s approach to managing its two drivers was once again placed under scrutiny.
Between the team radio exchanges at the Dutch Grand Prix and the opening two corners of the Italian Grand Prix, there have been moments when Ferrari’s management of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton could arguably have been handled better. The philosophy of having no formal rules of engagement between the drivers, revealed by Lewis Hamilton and essentially confirmed by Fred Vasseur, has shown its potential downside.
Ferrari’s Hamilton-Leclerc battles have cost valuable points
It could be argued that Ferrari does not currently appear to be fighting for the World Championship. However, Fred Vasseur has consistently identified Constructors’ Championship points as a priority, and the recent tense on-track episodes involving Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have resulted in fewer points than the team might otherwise have scored.
Ferrari is currently closer to third-placed McLaren, holding a 59-point advantage, than it is to championship-leading Mercedes, which is 122 points ahead. That makes every lost position particularly significant as the Scuderia tries to maximise its Constructors’ Championship result.
The situation gained further attention at Monza after Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton came together in a closely fought opening sequence. It followed the previous weekend at Zandvoort, where radio exchanges between the two sides of the Ferrari garage had already generated considerable discussion.
Charles Leclerc denies tension with Lewis Hamilton
One of the first subjects Charles Leclerc addressed when speaking to journalists after the heavy Parabolica accident that ended his race was his relationship with Lewis Hamilton.
The Monegasque driver firmly rejected the suggestion that the two Ferrari drivers are in conflict.
“I really don’t know who is spreading this narrative that we’re against each other. At Zandvoort, there was far too much talk about it.”
The debate has intensified on social media, where some particularly aggressive supporters of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been exchanging insults and hostile comments. Such behaviour bears little resemblance to the support normally associated with genuine Formula 1 fans, even as debate over which driver commands the strongest backing among the Tifosi continues around Ferrari. The subject of Ferrari fan support at Monza had already attracted attention before the Italian Grand Prix weekend.
Charles Leclerc to undergo checks after heavy Monza crash
After his accident at Monza, Charles Leclerc will undergo checks to ensure that he has suffered no after-effects from the heavy impact and that he is in good health ahead of the Madrid round the following weekend.
The next event therefore brings another quick turnaround for the Ferrari driver, with the championship moving on according to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. Despite the recent on-track incidents and the discussion surrounding Ferrari’s management of its drivers, Charles Leclerc’s message regarding Lewis Hamilton remains unequivocal: he does not view his team-mate as an adversary within the team.
