Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has ruled out introducing new rules of engagement for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc despite the tensions between the two drivers. Speaking during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos, the French manager acknowledged that managing such competitive team-mates can be complicated but insisted that mutual respect and professionalism are more important than additional restrictions.
Vasseur also believes the rivalry has contributed to Ferrari’s recent performance improvements, with the two drivers pushing each other to achieve better results. After discussions in São Paulo, the team principal is confident that the Scuderia has moved beyond the recent controversy and can focus on its objectives.
Ferrari moves forward after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc tensions
Fred Vasseur was one of the central figures in the Ferrari camp on Friday at Interlagos, addressing the internal rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during the FIA press conference. Tensions between the two drivers had intensified following the events of the Belgian Grand Prix, making their relationship an important subject ahead of the Brazilian weekend.
The Ferrari team principal arrived in São Paulo on Thursday evening alongside Charles Leclerc and subsequently met with both drivers in an effort to resolve the situation and move forward.
Vasseur reiterated the importance of respecting Ferrari as an organisation, emphasising that personal interests must come second to those of the team. His position follows the recent debate surrounding Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s relationship ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix.
Fred Vasseur admits Hamilton and Leclerc are complicated to manage
Speaking later to French broadcaster Canal Plus F1, Fred Vasseur sought to play down the severity of his comments from the previous weekend, maintaining that they reflected the shared position of the Ferrari organisation.
“I don’t think they were harsh words. It was what I thought and what everyone at Ferrari thought. So, in this case, the words weren’t harsh. In the meantime, we’ve had time to talk, both separately and all together, to put the matter behind us and look ahead.”
The French manager did not attempt to conceal the difficulties involved in managing two drivers who constantly measure themselves against one another. However, he also highlighted the positive influence of that competition on Ferrari’s recent results.
“It’s not impossible, but it’s complicated. Their performance comes from the fact that they’re extremely competitive. On every lap, they look at what the other is doing and try to measure themselves against each other.”
Fred Vasseur pointed out that Ferrari had scored more points than any other team across the previous four or five races, arguing that the internal battle had played a role in that achievement.
“Over the last four or five races, we’ve been the team that has scored the most points. And that’s also happened because of this internal competition, where they push each other to do better. It’s up to us to manage it, and up to them to respect the work of the team members. But I believe we’ve turned the page and will look ahead.”
The Ferrari team principal therefore sees the rivalry as something that must be managed rather than eliminated. While the two drivers are expected to put the interests of the Scuderia first, their competitive relationship can also encourage them to extract more performance.
Fred Vasseur rejects new Ferrari rules of engagement
When asked whether Ferrari had established specific internal racing rules following the recent incidents, Fred Vasseur dismissed the idea of introducing additional restrictions for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
“I don’t believe in that kind of rule at all. Should I say that you have to leave one metre and twenty centimetres when approaching a corner, or something like that? The right rule is respect for the team, the sponsors, the brand and the people who work here.”
Rather than defining precise limits for the drivers when racing each other, Fred Vasseur believes their professional judgement should be sufficient to manage situations on track: “The drivers are absolutely professional. They’re perfectly capable of doing their jobs. For me, any additional rules are unnecessary.”
His comments also clarify Ferrari’s position following the recent reports about possible new Ferrari racing rules after the Mexican Grand Prix controversy. Although the team principal has acknowledged the complexity of managing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, he remains convinced that their competitiveness can benefit Ferrari provided they respect the people working around them.
The wider challenges surrounding Ferrari’s handling of its two drivers have also prompted questions about the team’s driver management, particularly following the recent on-track disagreements.
For now, however, Ferrari’s approach remains unchanged. There will be no new predetermined rules of engagement, with Vasseur placing his trust in the professionalism of both drivers and their commitment to the team.
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