Ferrari president John Elkann was reportedly left irritated by the clash between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, which cost the Maranello team a potential victory and possibly even a one-two finish. The aggressive opening-lap battle between the two drivers has intensified questions about Ferrari’s internal management, with the team’s leadership now facing the task of restoring unity ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
According to journalist Giuliano Duchessa of AutoRacer.it, John Elkann was particularly unhappy with what he saw and heard following the race. The reported frustration comes at a delicate moment for Ferrari, whose SF-26 had demonstrated the pace to fight for victory in Mexico, only for the confrontation between its drivers to undermine that opportunity.
John Elkann reportedly irritated by Ferrari’s Mexico GP clash
The fallout from the Mexican Grand Prix has been dominated by the comments made by Ferrari’s drivers and team principal. Lewis Hamilton was particularly outspoken in his criticism of his teammate, delivering what amounted to a lecture that included some inappropriate remarks. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, adopted a more analytical approach and appeared more willing to acknowledge his share of responsibility, although the blame for the incident was also shared with the seven-time world champion.
Fred Vasseur was equally frustrated, having watched Ferrari squander a realistic chance of victory. The events in Mexico have once again raised concerns about the consequences of Ferrari’s internal battles, particularly when the team has a car capable of fighting at the front.
The situation has also reportedly attracted the attention of Ferrari president John Elkann, whose emphasis on unity within the organisation appears increasingly difficult to reconcile with the aggressive rivalry between his two leading drivers.
Writing in a recent article published by AutoRacer.it, Giuliano Duchessa explained:
“And yet, the repetition of what we saw at Monza, with the roles reversed, leaves an issue that is difficult to ignore: excessive aggression between teammates has come at the expense of the team’s interests. Individual ambition must be managed, especially when it risks compromising the collective result. What happens if they are fighting to win the World Championship?”
The journalist then addressed the reported reaction of Ferrari’s president:
“It is said that John Elkann, who constantly emphasises the importance of unity, was rather irritated by what he saw and heard. Ferrari can no longer leave the rules of engagement up to the drivers.”
Ferrari urged to take control of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc rivalry
The comparison with Monza highlights a recurring concern for Ferrari. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are determined to pursue their own ambitions, but their willingness to fight aggressively has already proved costly for the team’s overall interests.
The question is whether Ferrari can continue allowing its drivers to determine the limits of their on-track battles, particularly when victories and podium finishes are at stake. The issue becomes even more significant when considering how the team might manage a situation in which both drivers were competing for the World Championship.
Giuliano Duchessa suggested that the time has come for Ferrari to establish clearer boundaries rather than continue leaving the rules of engagement entirely in the hands of its drivers.
The broader implications of the Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc rivalry ahead of 2027 are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. Their season-long performances can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc versus Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, although the immediate concern is how Ferrari manages their competition on track.
Fred Vasseur faces growing pressure before the Brazilian Grand Prix
With Ferrari already preparing for the next race at Interlagos, there is little time to dwell on what happened in Mexico. However, the opportunity to return immediately to the circuit does not eliminate the need to clarify the situation internally.
Giuliano Duchessa continued:
“The team is immediately heading to Brazil. Every victory or podium lost through internal battles increases the pressure surrounding the team. Vasseur is very angry, and the only consolation is being able to race again immediately at Interlagos, shifting the focus straight back to the track. But another weekend will not remove the need to clarify matters and obtain assurances.”
The Brazilian Grand Prix gives Ferrari an immediate opportunity to move forward, but the tensions generated in Mexico may prove difficult to resolve. The SF-26 had shown that it possessed the performance not only to fight for victory but potentially to pull away from its rivals, making the missed opportunity particularly frustrating.
Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have demonstrated that they are determined to win at all costs, an attitude that is understandable for drivers of their calibre. Nevertheless, the consequences of their confrontation have placed Fred Vasseur in an exceptionally difficult position.
The French manager has already made his dissatisfaction clear, arguing that the drivers showed a lack of respect towards Ferrari and those working for the team. His comments underline the seriousness of the situation and the importance of preventing individual ambitions from undermining collective objectives.
Attention will now turn to whether Ferrari can establish greater cooperation between its drivers before the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, where the team will seek to make better use of its improving competitiveness.
Did John Elkann create Ferrari’s driver management problem?
Managing two drivers who both regard themselves as leading figures within a team is rarely straightforward. That challenge becomes even greater when one is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion and the other is a long-established Ferrari driver determined to pursue his own ambitions.
Yet the responsibility for creating this difficult situation can also be traced back to the decisions made at the highest level of the organisation.
From this perspective, John Elkann made the fundamental mistake of bringing Lewis Hamilton to Maranello without either parting ways with Charles Leclerc or clearly establishing the Monegasque as the central figure in Ferrari’s project, supported by a teammate in a secondary role.
Instead, Ferrari now finds itself with two drivers who both expect to compete for victories and neither of whom is naturally inclined to accept a supporting position.
The clash in Mexico has exposed the difficulties of that arrangement. While Ferrari has every reason to welcome two ambitious and highly competitive drivers, their individual objectives must ultimately be balanced against the team’s interests.
Fred Vasseur therefore faces the challenge of establishing clearer limits while preserving the competitiveness of both drivers. With Ferrari’s performance improving, another costly confrontation could prove even more damaging, particularly if the team finds itself fighting regularly for victories.
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