Ferrari could face an unexpected problem if it secures second place in the 2026 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While confirming the runner-up position would represent an important achievement for the Maranello team, it could also remove one of the main reasons for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to limit their increasingly intense on-track rivalry during the final two races of the season.
With just over a week remaining before Formula 1 begins its final triple-header in Las Vegas, the Scuderia finds itself approaching a potentially decisive weekend. Ferrari’s immediate priority is to protect its championship position, but once that objective is mathematically secured, the competition between its two drivers could become even more aggressive in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari could secure second place in F1 constructors’ championship at Las Vegas GP
Ferrari enters the Las Vegas Grand Prix with 510 points in the Constructors’ Championship, holding a 95-point advantage over Red Bull, which sits on 415 points.
That gap places the Italian team in a strong position to finish the championship as runner-up. Ferrari needs to leave Las Vegas with an advantage of 86 points to secure second place mathematically, according to the current championship calculations.
Although finishing second is far from the ultimate objective for a team with Ferrari’s history and ambitions, the result still carries considerable importance.
The Scuderia has occupied second position throughout the season, making the possibility of surrendering that place during the final races particularly disappointing. Protecting the advantage over Red Bull is therefore a priority that Ferrari cannot afford to overlook.
The upcoming 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend could consequently determine whether Ferrari approaches Qatar and Abu Dhabi with its Constructors’ Championship objective already achieved.
However, while securing second place would reduce the pressure on the team, it could have a very different effect on the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Why Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could fight harder after Las Vegas
The battle between Ferrari’s two drivers has become increasingly significant as the 2026 season approaches its conclusion.
For Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, finishing ahead of one another in the Drivers’ Championship has developed into an important personal objective, even if their eventual positions will have relatively limited significance in the wider championship picture.
Under normal circumstances, teammates are naturally determined to outperform each other. However, the current competition between the two Ferrari drivers has become more intense than an ordinary internal battle.
Lewis Hamilton has appeared particularly determined to protect his results over recent Grands Prix. The seven-time world champion has enjoyed a strong season, recording only one retirement, and has increasingly demonstrated his desire to finish ahead of Charles Leclerc.
That determination has been visible both in the way the British driver races and in his comments following recent Grands Prix. Hamilton is eager to prove that he can outperform his teammate, making their final positions in the Drivers’ Championship an increasingly important consideration.
The development has also contributed to questions surrounding Ferrari’s internal rivalry, particularly as both drivers seek to establish themselves within the team.
Charles Leclerc appears increasingly determined to challenge Lewis Hamilton
While Lewis Hamilton has become more assertive in recent races, Charles Leclerc’s approach also appears to have changed.
Earlier in the season, the Monegasque seemed relatively unconcerned about the direct comparison with his teammate. However, the increasingly competitive atmosphere within Ferrari has coincided with a more determined approach from Leclerc.
His growing desire to succeed may also have been influenced by Hamilton’s behaviour over recent weeks, with the two drivers appearing less willing to concede ground to one another. That shift creates an uncomfortable situation for Ferrari. Both drivers are motivated to finish the season ahead of their teammate, and neither appears particularly inclined to compromise when competing for position.
Their performances throughout the championship can be explored through the Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, which track the season-long comparison between the two Ferrari drivers.
With three Grands Prix remaining, the outcome of their internal competition has yet to be settled.
Securing second place could give Ferrari drivers greater freedom in Qatar and Abu Dhabi
The situation could become particularly complicated if Ferrari manages to establish an unassailable advantage over Red Bull at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Once second place in the Constructors’ Championship is mathematically guaranteed, the team would no longer need to approach the final two weekends with the same emphasis on protecting its championship position.
That could provide Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with greater freedom to pursue their individual objectives in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. For the drivers, the opportunity to race more aggressively without the immediate pressure of securing second place for Ferrari could prove appealing.
However, what might appear beneficial from an individual perspective could create new difficulties for the Scuderia. With both drivers increasingly focused on defeating the other, removing the common championship objective could intensify an already competitive relationship.
This would not necessarily mean that Ferrari would abandon its existing approach to managing the drivers. Nevertheless, the reduced importance of the Constructors’ Championship battle could change the circumstances surrounding their final on-track confrontations of the season.
Why Ferrari will want to avoid further incidents between its drivers
Even if Ferrari secures second place in Las Vegas, allowing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to engage in unnecessary risks would offer little benefit to the team.
One important consideration is Formula 1’s budget cap, which makes avoiding preventable damage relevant throughout the entire championship. Any contact between the Ferrari drivers could result in expensive repairs, creating financial consequences even after the team’s final Constructors’ Championship position has been decided.
For that reason, the Scuderia is likely to seek ways of preventing its internal rivalry from escalating during the final rounds. The challenge is particularly delicate because both drivers have their own motivations for finishing ahead of the other. Lewis Hamilton wants to demonstrate that he can defeat Charles Leclerc, while the Monegasque has become increasingly determined to protect his own position.
Ferrari has already had to manage disagreements between its two drivers following recent races, highlighting the importance of maintaining a balance between individual ambition and the team’s wider interests.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix could therefore represent more than an opportunity to confirm second place in the Constructors’ Championship. It may also mark the beginning of a new phase in Ferrari’s internal competition.
If the team’s championship objective is achieved, Qatar and Abu Dhabi could become the setting for an even more intense battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Ferrari’s priority will be to ensure that their determination to finish ahead of one another does not lead to unnecessary incidents, additional costs or further internal tensions before the 2026 season concludes.
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