Fred Vasseur confirms no team orders at Ferrari: “As long as the cars come back safely”. Frederic Vasseur confirms Ferrari won’t enforce team orders between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

Red on-track skirmishes

Both in Shanghai and Suzuka, the two Ferrari drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, found themselves battling fiercely on track. In China, Lewis Hamilton emerged ahead, while in Japan it was Leclerc who came out on top. At Suzuka, the Monegasque executed a bold outside maneuver through Turn 1 to overtake Hamilton, after subtly informing his team over the radio that he was “losing time” behind his teammate. In both instances, Ferrari did not issue any team orders to the drivers.

Vasseur stays calm

Team principal Frederic Vasseur downplayed the renewed on-track rivalry between Hamilton and Leclerc. He explained that in the current F1 format, it’s easier to stay behind a car in overtaking mode, but once you lose ground, regaining position is much harder. The French manager expressed confidence in both drivers, emphasizing their professionalism and experience, saying he isn’t worried about their battles.

Prioritizing team over position

Regarding the intra-team fight between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Fred Vasseur clarified that the priority is not who finishes ahead, but ensuring that the cars return safely without any damage. “As long as they bring the cars back in one piece, I’m happy. There is a lot of respect between them, and they understand that Ferrari comes first. They are doing an excellent job on track,” he said.

Hamilton’s SF-26 power issue

Lewis Hamilton revealed that his SF-26 was experiencing a power deficit, which prevented him from defending effectively against overtakes from Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Lando Norris. Despite this, both Ferrari drivers were able to push and maintain strong race pace.

McLaren rises at Suzuka

Meanwhile, McLaren showed a competitive performance at Suzuka, bouncing back from a disappointing weekend in Shanghai. Oscar Piastri even managed to secure a podium finish ahead of Leclerc. However, Frederic Vasseur emphasized that this result does not come as a surprise and does not change Ferrari’s approach.

“Just because they didn’t perform well in China doesn’t mean they are out of the title fight. They were right alongside us on the grid, and they will be there. A retirement can always happen, but they will be in the mix. For me, this changes nothing,” Fred Vasseur concluded.

Fred Vasseur’s refusal to implement strict “Papaya-style” rules at Ferrari therefore shows a high level of trust in the Leclerc-Hamilton partnership. Based on the content of the first three races, Maranello is content to let its champions race, provided they prioritize the car’s safety over personal glory.