Lewis Hamilton’s attempts to influence Ferrari are reportedly creating friction within the Italian team, while Charles Leclerc enjoys a more favourable position among its personnel. Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi has described a deep internal divide between the two drivers, suggesting that their contrasting approaches to team politics are contributing to tensions that remain unresolved.
Speaking on Terruzzi Racconta, the journalist argued that Hamilton’s desire to have a significant say in Ferrari’s direction has upset some people within the organisation. Meanwhile, Leclerc is considered a more cherished figure at Maranello, having spent years establishing himself as the central driver in the team’s long-term project. Their increasingly complicated relationship could become an even greater challenge for Fred Vasseur if Ferrari develops a championship-winning car in 2027.
Giorgio Terruzzi claims Charles Leclerc enjoys greater support within Ferrari
The difference between the two drivers’ positions inside Ferrari reflects their contrasting relationships with the Scuderia. Charles Leclerc is now in his seventh year with the team and has long been one of the principal figures around whom its Formula 1 ambitions have been built.
Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, arrived as a seven-time world champion following a high-profile move accompanied by a lucrative contract. His arrival represented a major commitment from Ferrari, but it also introduced a second established contender into a team that had already invested heavily in Leclerc.
Although several rival teams have chosen to establish a clear leading driver, Ferrari has avoided formally favouring either member of its line-up. That approach has allowed both drivers to compete for supremacy, but it has also created an environment in which their respective roles and influence remain open to interpretation.
Discussing the situation on Terruzzi Racconta, Giorgio Terruzzi suggested that Leclerc enjoys a stronger emotional connection with people inside Ferrari. According to the Italian journalist, the Monegasque receives more affection and attention within the team, whereas Hamilton’s efforts to influence numerous aspects of its operation have caused irritation among some personnel.
Terruzzi portrayed the situation as a significant internal division rather than simply an ordinary sporting rivalry between teammates.
Lewis Hamilton’s influence and Charles Leclerc’s silence become part of Ferrari’s internal politics
One of the most interesting aspects of Terruzzi’s assessment concerns how the two drivers approach their position within Ferrari away from the circuit.
The journalist argued that both Hamilton and Leclerc are engaged in political manoeuvring, although they employ very different methods. In Hamilton’s case, Terruzzi highlighted his tendency to make public statements and continue discussing problems over an extended period, including his comments upon arriving in Brazil.
He suggested that the seven-time world champion uses those interventions as part of his effort to influence the direction of the team. Leclerc, meanwhile, is considered to be playing a similar political game through his silence rather than through repeated public statements.
Terruzzi also outlined what he believes to be the competing perspectives of the two Ferrari drivers.
From Hamilton’s point of view, his position ahead in the championship standings and his seven world titles provide reasons for Ferrari to value his opinions and involve him in important decisions. The British driver could reasonably question why the Scuderia recruited someone with his achievements if it did not intend to benefit from his experience.
Leclerc’s perceived position is considerably different. As Terruzzi explained, the Monegasque could question whether Hamilton was recruited primarily to drive the car or to exercise the kind of influence normally associated with a technical director.
These contrasting attitudes form the basis of what the journalist described as a deep divide within Ferrari that has yet to be properly addressed.
The tensions have also been reflected in Lewis Hamilton’s public approach to his disagreements with Charles Leclerc, particularly following the controversy surrounding their Mexican Grand Prix encounter.
Mexico City and Monza incidents add to Ferrari’s Hamilton-Leclerc tensions
The difficulties between Ferrari’s drivers have not been limited to their relationships within the organisation. Their on-track rivalry has also produced several controversial moments during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Hamilton and Leclerc became involved in an incident that cost Ferrari a potential race victory. Hamilton was furious with his teammate following the confrontation, creating further questions about the relationship between the two drivers.
The British champion subsequently insisted that internal discussions had helped settle the disagreement. However, the episode was not their first confrontation of the campaign, with the Ferrari pair also having come together at Monza.
These incidents have increased scrutiny of Fred Vasseur’s handling of the driver line-up, with Ferrari’s approach to managing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc becoming an increasingly prominent subject of discussion.
The French team principal has already faced the difficult task of maintaining harmony during 2026, despite the team not yet having the machinery required to fight consistently for the world championship.
Following the Mexico City controversy, discussions surrounding potential Ferrari racing rules further highlighted the challenges involved in managing two ambitious drivers without establishing a clear hierarchy.
Ferrari’s 2027 championship ambitions could make the internal divide worse
The prospect of Ferrari returning to championship contention in 2027 could make the current situation considerably more difficult.
For Charles Leclerc, winning the Formula 1 world championship with Ferrari has been a long-standing ambition. The Monegasque has remained loyal to the Italian team throughout his years at Maranello and continues to pursue the opportunity to secure the title in red.
Lewis Hamilton has a different but equally significant objective. Already a seven-time world champion, the British driver is determined to secure an unprecedented eighth Drivers’ Championship.
If Ferrari produces a car capable of challenging for the title, both drivers will have compelling reasons to fight for priority within the team. The consequences of that competition could extend beyond their performances on the circuit, particularly given Terruzzi’s assessment of their differing levels of influence and support inside the organisation.
The rivalry can also be examined through the Charles Leclerc versus Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, which provide a comparison of the two Ferrari drivers’ performances during the season.
For Fred Vasseur, the challenge will be to ensure that the team’s championship ambitions are not undermined by disagreements over status, authority or preferential treatment.
Terruzzi’s comments suggest that the political differences between Hamilton and Leclerc already run deeper than their recent on-track confrontations. Should Ferrari become a genuine title contender in 2027, the struggle for supremacy between its two drivers could place even greater pressure on the Scuderia’s internal relationships.
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