Italian Formula 1 journalist Giorgio Terruzzi believes Charles Leclerc enjoys significantly greater support inside Ferrari than Lewis Hamilton, whose attempts to influence the team have reportedly irritated several people within the organisation. Discussing the tensions that followed the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, Giorgio Terruzzi argued that both drivers are engaging in internal politics, although they are approaching the situation in very different ways.
The controversy has raised questions about Ferrari’s management of its two star drivers and the extent of their influence within the team. While Charles Leclerc has defended his actions during their on-track battle in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton has questioned whether teammates should be allowed to fight each other on the opening lap when occupying the first two positions. For Giorgio Terruzzi, the disagreement reflects a deeper problem that Ferrari has struggled to address.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc take different positions after Mexican GP controversy
The messages delivered through the media by Charles Leclerc and, particularly, Lewis Hamilton following the Mexican Grand Prix did not appear to be accidental. The Monegasque driver emphasised that he had not made contact with his teammate and suggested that he had effectively been given permission to fight for victory from the very beginning of the race.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, directed his criticism not only towards his Ferrari teammate but also towards the broader question of whether two drivers from the same team should be allowed to battle during the opening lap while running first and second.
Their contrasting reactions placed Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in a difficult position. Rather than assigning greater responsibility to either driver, the Frenchman expressed his frustration with both, explaining that their behaviour had failed to show sufficient respect for the Ferrari brand, the company, its supporters and its sponsors.
Nevertheless, Fred Vasseur reiterated that he does not believe in establishing formal, written rules of engagement between teammates. The debate over how Ferrari should manage its drivers has become particularly significant following the growing tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Giorgio Terruzzi claims Charles Leclerc enjoys greater support inside Ferrari
Speaking during his podcast, Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi offered a particularly revealing assessment of Ferrari’s internal dynamics, suggesting that both drivers are attempting to strengthen their positions within the organisation.
“The decision to have two drivers like this in the team was Vasseur’s. Perhaps Ferrari is the only team with two stars. I have the utmost respect for both of them. When Hamilton makes the statements he makes, and then drags the matter out, continuing to go on about it when he arrives in Brazil, he is playing politics. Leclerc is also playing politics, implicitly, by remaining silent. Leclerc is certainly more pampered and more loved within Ferrari than Hamilton, who, on the other hand, gets on a lot of people’s nerves because he has an influence, or wants to have an influence, on a whole range of issues.”
According to Giorgio Terruzzi, the difference is not simply a matter of how the drivers communicate publicly. Charles Leclerc is perceived as enjoying a more favourable position within Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton’s desire to have a say in numerous areas of the team’s operation has created friction.
The journalist’s interpretation also suggests that silence can be just as politically significant as public criticism. While Lewis Hamilton has continued to discuss the controversy, Charles Leclerc’s more reserved approach may serve a different purpose within Ferrari’s internal environment.
The competing approaches add another dimension to the psychological battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with their influence away from the circuit becoming part of the wider discussion.
Giorgio Terruzzi warns of a deep divide between Ferrari’s two drivers
Giorgio Terruzzi also attempted to explain the contrasting perspectives of the two Ferrari drivers, highlighting why each might feel justified in questioning the other’s position within the team.
“From Hamilton’s point of view, the Englishman is asking himself: I’m ahead, I’ve won seven world championships, what did you sign me for?”
He then outlined how Charles Leclerc might interpret the same situation:
“From Leclerc’s point of view, the Monegasque is asking himself: did you sign him to be a driver or to be a technical director? We’re talking about a deep disagreement that I now find difficult to see being resolved, because it was never addressed at its root.”
These remarks underline the central issue in Giorgio Terruzzi’s assessment: Lewis Hamilton’s experience and status as a seven-time Formula 1 world champion may lead him to expect a substantial role in shaping Ferrari’s direction, while Charles Leclerc may question how far that influence should extend beyond driving responsibilities.
Their respective positions within the team have therefore become an important part of the debate surrounding Ferrari’s internal management. The sporting dimension of their rivalry can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, which compare their performances throughout the season.
For Fred Vasseur, the challenge extends beyond managing disagreements over individual racing incidents. Giorgio Terruzzi’s comments suggest that the underlying tensions concern the roles, influence and expectations of two established Formula 1 stars sharing the same garage.
Although Fred Vasseur has since described constructive discussions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Giorgio Terruzzi’s assessment highlights the deeper questions surrounding Ferrari’s driver management following the Mexican Grand Prix.
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