Fred Vasseur reportedly intervened directly over Ferrari radio after Lewis Hamilton continued trying to return to the pits following his crash in final practice at the Spanish Grand Prix. Journalist Jacky Martens has claimed that the Ferrari team principal used a private communication channel after race engineer Carlo Santi repeatedly instructed Hamilton to stop the damaged car.
Hamilton wanted to bring the SF-26 back to the garage himself because doing so would have allowed Ferrari to begin repairs more quickly before qualifying. However, continuing after being told to stop risked creating a further problem, with the seven-time world champion potentially facing a penalty for failing to follow the race director’s instructions.
Lewis Hamilton ignored repeated Ferrari stop instructions
After the accident, Carlo Santi instructed Hamilton on at least five occasions to stop the car. The Briton nevertheless continued to indicate that he believed he could make it back to the garage, prioritising the time Ferrari could save in preparing the car for qualifying.
According to Martens, speaking on the Paddock Access podcast, that was when Vasseur became involved. The journalist explained that the Ferrari team principal has limited access to a private radio channel that is not necessarily carried on the main broadcast feed, and that Vasseur used it to give Hamilton an unequivocal instruction to stop.
Martens suggested that Hamilton only finally parked the car after the team principal intervened. He also explained that team bosses can use communication options that do not automatically reach the television broadcast, although he indicated that there are limits to how much radio traffic can be withheld.
The episode adds another detail to a turbulent Madrid weekend for Hamilton, whose 2026 campaign can be followed through ScuderiaFans’ dedicated Lewis Hamilton Ferrari coverage.
Vasseur intervention avoided another possible Hamilton penalty
Hamilton had already collected five significant penalties during the season, meaning another infringement would have added to an already costly disciplinary record. The Spanish GP practice incident was noted but did not lead to further action.
Once the car was recovered and repaired, Hamilton was able to qualify fourth. His race then ended on lap seven because of a brake failure, turning what had begun as a promising grid position into another frustrating result. Ferrari subsequently examined the issue in detail after the brake problem that caused Hamilton’s Madrid retirement.
Hamilton and Vasseur already under pressure after Monza
The radio episode also arrived against a broader backdrop of tension inside Ferrari. Hamilton, Vasseur and Charles Leclerc held discussions before the race to review the start of the Italian Grand Prix, where the aggressive opening-lap battle between the two Ferrari drivers had cost Hamilton six positions.
The internal debate extended beyond that incident. Vasseur had declined to prioritise Hamilton over Leclerc despite the Briton holding the points advantage between them and still harbouring hopes of closing on championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Those title ambitions have since been almost completely extinguished.
Hamilton had also sought clearer rules of engagement between Ferrari’s two drivers, but that request was not accepted. The situation contributed to wider scrutiny over how the Scuderia was managing its driver pairing as the championship entered its later stages.
Ralf Schumacher sensed frustration from the Ferrari team principal
During an interview at Madring, Sky Sports Germany pundit Ralf Schumacher also felt Vasseur appeared irritated with both Ferrari drivers following the Monza incident. His interpretation was that the team principal had been unhappy with how the internal battle had developed and the consequences it created for the team.
That impression was part of a wider debate surrounding Vasseur’s frustration and Ferrari’s team-orders situation after Madrid, particularly as Hamilton’s championship position became increasingly difficult.
The final-practice radio exchange therefore carried significance beyond a simple instruction to stop a damaged car. Hamilton was focused on recovering the Ferrari quickly enough to help the mechanics ahead of qualifying, while Santi and ultimately Vasseur were trying to ensure the driver followed the required instruction and avoided an unnecessary sporting consequence.
According to Martens’ account, it was the intervention from Ferrari’s team principal that finally ended the discussion and brought the car to a halt.
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