Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner believes Fred Vasseur could eventually deliver a firm ultimatum to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc if their rivalry continues to undermine Ferrari’s results. Following the costly confrontation at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, Steiner predicts that further disputes between the two drivers are likely, suggesting the Ferrari boss may ultimately have to warn them that failing to put the team first could leave them without a place in the car.
The warning comes after Ferrari missed an opportunity to secure a one-two finish in Mexico, despite possessing a car capable of fighting for victory. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc became embroiled in an opening-lap battle that allowed Max Verstappen to take advantage, turning what could have been a particularly successful afternoon for the Maranello team into another source of frustration.
Guenther Steiner predicts Fred Vasseur could issue Ferrari drivers an ultimatum
Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Guenther Steiner described Ferrari’s situation as both an enviable position and a serious management challenge. In his assessment, having two drivers capable of winning races is precisely what a leading Formula 1 team should want, even if their competing ambitions occasionally create difficult situations.
The former Haas boss explained that Fred Vasseur has the advantage of working with two exceptionally talented drivers, but their determination to beat each other can also become a problem when it compromises the team’s overall performance.
Steiner argued that he would not prefer a situation in which one of those drivers was partnered by someone operating at a considerably lower competitive level, using Lance Stroll as an example. He stressed that he was not favouring either Ferrari driver, but believed the team was better served by having two potential race winners than by accepting a substantial imbalance between its drivers.
However, the Italian-American former team principal was far less optimistic about Ferrari’s ability to eliminate the tension between its current pairing.
According to Steiner, the underlying problem is unlikely to disappear because both Hamilton and Leclerc are motivated by the same objective: winning races. He therefore expects the situation to arise again, regardless of the efforts made to establish a more cooperative relationship.
Should that happen, Steiner believes Vasseur may eventually be forced to take a considerably tougher approach. He suggested the Frenchman could warn both drivers that if they refuse to work in Ferrari’s interests, the team will send them home rather than continue allowing their rivalry to damage results.
The former Haas team principal presented that possibility as a prediction about how Vasseur might respond if tensions persist, rather than as an ultimatum already delivered by Ferrari.
Mexico GP clash costs Ferrari chance of a one-two finish
The latest controversy began during the opening lap of the Mexican Grand Prix, when Charles Leclerc attempted to pass Lewis Hamilton around the outside. Their battle continued towards Turn 4, where both Ferrari cars ran wide.
Leclerc emerged ahead after gaining the lead while off the circuit, while Hamilton lost ground and dropped to third behind Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver capitalised on the disorder and eventually went on to win the Grand Prix.
The stewards subsequently handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for the opening-lap incident. Although Hamilton recovered to finish second, his team-mate ended the race in fourth, leaving Ferrari without the one-two result that had appeared possible.
For the Scuderia, the disappointment was particularly significant because the car had demonstrated the performance required to challenge for victory. Instead, the confrontation between Ferrari’s drivers in Mexico helped create an opportunity for a rival team to secure the win.
Hamilton made his frustration clear after the race, arguing that Ferrari had possessed the machinery to win but had effectively lost that opportunity through the events of the first lap. His disappointment reflected the wider consequences of a battle that affected both drivers and the team’s overall result.
Leclerc was similarly angry when he returned to the Ferrari hospitality area. Nevertheless, the Monegasque accepted his penalty and indicated that he intended to discuss the situation with Hamilton.
The different reactions of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton following the incident highlighted the challenge facing Ferrari as it attempts to prevent another confrontation.
Fred Vasseur demands respect for Ferrari staff after costly incident
Fred Vasseur has also expressed his dissatisfaction with the behaviour of the two drivers, focusing particularly on the consequences for the wider Ferrari organisation.
The team principal argued that the actions of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc showed a lack of respect for the employees working at Maranello. Those staff members devote considerable effort to preparing a competitive car, only for the drivers’ on-track conflict to interfere with the team’s pursuit of valuable championship points.
That message placed the controversy in a broader context. Ferrari’s performance depends on the combined efforts of its engineers, mechanics and other personnel, meaning the consequences of a driver dispute extend beyond the individuals directly involved.
Vasseur’s demand for greater respect following the Mexico GP clash underlined the importance of ensuring that individual ambitions do not repeatedly undermine the team’s collective work. The situation has also raised questions about whether Ferrari needs a more clearly defined set of internal racing guidelines, similar to the rules of engagement associated with rival teams.
Such an approach would seek to establish clearer boundaries for competition between the two drivers without necessarily preventing them from racing each other. However, Steiner remains doubtful that formal rules alone would permanently resolve the problem, given the determination of both drivers to compete for victories.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc separated by 14 points in championship
The internal rivalry also carries significance for the Drivers’ Championship, where Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remain relatively close in the standings.
Following the Mexico City Grand Prix, Leclerc occupies third place, just two points behind Max Verstappen. Hamilton sits fifth, five points behind George Russell, with 14 points separating the two Ferrari team-mates.
Those positions help explain why neither driver is likely to welcome losing ground to the other, particularly when Ferrari has the pace to compete near the front. The battle can also be followed through the Charles Leclerc versus Lewis Hamilton season comparison, which tracks the performances of Ferrari’s two drivers throughout the 2026 championship.
With championship positions still at stake, the challenge for Ferrari is to allow both drivers to pursue their individual ambitions without repeating the mistakes that proved costly in Mexico. That tension forms part of the wider debate over Ferrari’s management of its driver rivalry ahead of 2027, as the team seeks to make the most of a pairing capable of delivering strong results.
For Steiner, the central concern is not whether Hamilton and Leclerc possess the talent required to win, but whether Ferrari can prevent that talent from becoming counterproductive when the two compete against each other.
His prediction leaves Fred Vasseur facing a familiar dilemma for a team with two ambitious drivers: preserving the competitiveness that makes both valuable while ensuring their rivalry does not repeatedly hand opportunities to their opponents.
If another confrontation compromises Ferrari’s performance, Steiner believes the team principal may eventually conclude that a much firmer warning is necessary.
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