The double disqualification of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in China continues to spark discussion, though this time, the two drivers are in the spotlight for different reasons.
After two races, where does the relationship between the new teammates stand? Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur addressed this question in a lengthy interview with *L’Équipe*, which even Carlo Vanzini contested. Managing both drivers will be quite the headache for Ferrari’s team boss.
Only two Grands Prix have passed, yet there have already been two on-track contacts—the latest, more evident at the start of Sunday’s race in Shanghai. Then came the criticism: Hamilton went from being a hero, following his Sprint win, to being dismissed in less than 24 hours. “I don’t know anything, but you know, some of the criticism has been very harsh,” Fred Vasseur told the French newspaper.
“Thinking that Lewis Hamilton is washed up, that he’s past his prime, is absurd. And it’s also false. Look at his last race last year—he started 16th and finished fourth, overtaking his teammate.”
And what about Charles Leclerc? How is he handling this period in the shadow of the seven-time world champion, who has already claimed a victory with Ferrari?
“He’s less in the spotlight, that’s true. But this gives him more time for himself, to focus on other things, to spend time with his engineers. There’s something positive in that,” the team principal explained.
“There might be some frustration, maybe a bit of jealousy, but I think Charles is intelligent, that he understands the situation better, and most importantly, that he sees the positive side of it all. He can focus 100% on his sporting objective.”
Next up for Formula 1 is Japan, where Ferrari will need to deliver a strong response after the disappointment in China.
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