Ferrari team orders? Charles Leclerc’s pre-Silverstone comments take on new meaning. Charles Leclerc left the door open to Ferrari team orders before Silverstone victory.

Charles Leclerc was open to team orders before Silverstone

Before the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, Charles Leclerc did not rule out the possibility of following Ferrari team orders if the championship situation demanded it. After his victory at Silverstone, however, those comments have taken on an entirely new perspective.

Can Ferrari really fight for the Formula 1 title?

Ferrari’s recent resurgence, with victories in two of the last three Formula 1 races—Lewis Hamilton’s triumph in Barcelona followed by Charles Leclerc‘s win at Silverstone—has reignited discussions about whether the Scuderia could mount an unlikely championship challenge.

That optimism could receive another boost with the introduction of Ferrari’s second power unit, expected to feature the upgraded ADUO system. Even so, the atmosphere in Maranello remains cautious. The team is avoiding bold predictions, fully aware that Mercedes, despite recent reliability setbacks, remains the benchmark and will be extremely difficult to beat over the remainder of the season.

Should Ferrari introduce team orders?

Following the Silverstone weekend, Lewis Hamilton has become Ferrari’s highest-placed driver in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. Thanks in part to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s retirement, Lewis Hamilton has reduced the gap to the championship leader to just 32 points.

Considering Mercedes’ dominance during the opening phase of the season, that deficit remains very manageable. Charles Leclerc may have taken victory at Silverstone, but he now sits 71 points behind the championship leader and trails his Ferrari teammate by 39 points.

Several observers, including former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley, have suggested that Ferrari and team principal Frederic Vasseur should now concentrate their championship efforts on Lewis Hamilton. Their reasoning is that maximizing every available point with the better-placed driver could give Ferrari its best chance, especially if Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell continue to take points from each other in the Mercedes garage.

Charles Leclerc’s comments before Silverstone

Speaking to Motorsport Week during the Thursday media day at Silverstone, Charles Leclerc acknowledged that he would be prepared to support Lewis Hamilton if circumstances required it.

“We’ll see where we are at the end of the season. Whatever situation I find myself in, of course the team always comes first. But for now, I don’t want to think about that. Right now I have to focus on my own performances, and that’s what I’m concentrating on. Then we’ll see later what needs to be done.”

After Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone, those remarks inevitably carry much greater significance. If Ferrari’s title hopes continue to grow, it will be interesting to see whether the Monegasque driver maintains the same position as the championship battle develops.

Charles Leclerc sees continuity inside the Ferrari garage

Charles Leclerc also rejected the idea that there had been any major change within Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton continued to adapt to his new surroundings in 2026.

“I don’t think there’s been any particular change inside the garage. Performance can fluctuate: last year things were one way, and this year they’re different. As a driver, you just have to focus on your own job. Lewis is now much more comfortable with the team. During your first year with a new team, you don’t always know who to turn to for every issue. That’s no longer the case. He knows most of the people now, and he’s as comfortable as I am. We’re improving and making changes to our processes, but I wouldn’t say we’ve changed our overall approach.”