Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has commented on the podium finish of the Scuderia at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, clarifying the situation regarding possible team orders. The third and fourth place achieved by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc came at the end of an intense race, marked primarily by the long internal battle between the two Ferrari drivers, with the team choosing not to intervene. In the end, it was Lewis Hamilton who came out on top, claiming the podium ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc.
The thrilling duel kept even the Ferrari pit wall on edge, but Fred Vasseur was clear that he never considered intervening to freeze the positions of the two drivers. He explained that the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remained under control despite some tense moments. “It wasn’t excessive, it was under control. Even though I was a bit scared because something can always happen. My heart rate was at zero, but perhaps that was because my watch wasn’t working…”
The Hamilton vs. Leclerc battle analyzed by Frederic Vasseur
The Ferrari team principal defended the choice of not intervening over the radio. “It was beautiful to watch. Great for the team, for F1, and for the fans. I prefer to let them race rather than freeze their positions.” This clear philosophy confirms the Maranello team’s approach: allowing freedom for their drivers when the situation on track permits.
Despite Lewis Hamilton’s podium, the French manager admitted that Mercedes remains the team to beat in terms of pure performance. “Overall, Mercedes is faster. They are consistently ahead by four or five tenths.”
The French team principal highlighted that this performance gap is most evident when rivals have clear air. “At the start, you can survive, but when they have an open track, we are slower. They have an advantage on the straights, and we need to work on that.”
Looking at the development of the SF-26, Fred Vasseur stressed that focus should not be placed on a single aspect of the car. “We shouldn’t expect too much from the new directive. We need to understand how to work on everything and not just focus on the engine.” Ferrari’s work must cover the entire technical package. “These are all details we need to work on, but across the whole car.”
Lewis Hamilton’s role in the Ferrari project
Fred Vasseur then discussed Lewis Hamilton’s integration within the team, emphasizing that the British driver is now fully involved in the technical project. “Hamilton is now closer to us; he feels more a part of the team. He has worked on the development of the car, and the situation is different.”
The team principal reiterated that Ferrari remains a collective project. “This is not Lewis’ car or Charles’ car, it’s the team’s car. But Lewis has strengthened all relationships within the team, and that certainly helps a lot.”
Fred Vasseur’s comments at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend depict a Ferrari that is competitive yet aware of its current limitations. The podium in Shanghai represents a positive sign, but achieving consistent race wins and challenging Mercedes at the front will require further progress in the coming races.
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