Former Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has delivered a clear warning about the team’s handling of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, arguing that Ferrari cannot expect to win a Formula 1 world championship without establishing a clear driver hierarchy. His comments come amid renewed debate over the relationship between the two Ferrari drivers following their controversial battle at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix.
Few people will welcome Formula 1’s final week-long break more than Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. In recent days, his team has once again found itself at the centre of controversy, this time sparked not by media speculation but by some particularly strong comments from Lewis Hamilton. Following the Mexican Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion openly expressed his frustration with Charles Leclerc after another aggressive battle between the teammates at the start of the race.
“He’s 28 now, it’s a question of mentality. He thinks: ‘Either I win or nobody does,'” Lewis Hamilton said, among other remarks, in criticism of his Ferrari teammate.
Montezemolo warns Ferrari that a clear driver hierarchy is essential
The situation at Ferrari is far from straightforward. Having two highly competitive drivers in the same team is both a considerable strength and a potential source of conflict. During their time together, neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc has received preferential treatment, and team orders have generally been avoided except in particularly clear-cut circumstances.
However, maintaining complete equality between the drivers may not be a sustainable approach indefinitely. If Ferrari finds itself fighting for a world championship, as the team and its supporters have long hoped, a decision may eventually be required over which driver should receive priority.
Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the former Ferrari president who oversaw the team’s last great period of championship success, believes that such decisions are fundamental to building a winning team. Speaking to Sky Sport, he explained how Ferrari approached driver management during the Michael Schumacher era.
“I wanted one driver who would win the world championship, and the other to win races and bring home points, while understanding the hierarchy. When Schumacher arrived, we went through Irvine, Barrichello and then Massa. They weren’t slow drivers, but within the team there had to be clear agreements; if that was acceptable, fine, and if not, you could leave,” the former Ferrari president explained.
His assessment brings renewed attention to the delicate balance Ferrari must maintain between its two drivers. The debate surrounding Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s relationship has become an increasingly prominent issue, particularly as both drivers remain determined to establish themselves as the team’s leading contender.
Montezemolo recalls controversial Ferrari team orders involving Barrichello
Luca di Montezemolo also recalled a controversial episode from the early 2000s, when Ferrari operated with clearly established team orders designed to maximise its chances of winning championships.
The former president referred to the decision to instruct Rubens Barrichello to allow Michael Schumacher through, an incident that became one of the most widely discussed examples of team orders in Formula 1 history.
“We created a historic controversy when we held Barrichello back to let Schumacher through, perhaps going too far, at the third race. On the Monday, I called Barrichello and told him that if he wasn’t happy with it, he could submit his resignation. On one hand, you need firmness from those in charge; on the other, clarity with the drivers. But if you sign someone like Hamilton, it’s obvious that he won’t accept being number two.”
Montezemolo’s remarks underline the challenge facing Fred Vasseur. Ferrari’s historical approach under Michael Schumacher was based on an established hierarchy, but the current situation involves two drivers who both expect to compete at the highest level.
Although Fred Vasseur has addressed the recent tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the wider question of how Ferrari should manage its drivers if a championship opportunity emerges remains significant.
The competitive relationship between the two can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, which provide a broader picture of their performances across the Formula 1 season.
For Luca di Montezemolo, the principle is clear: successful driver management requires firm leadership, transparent expectations and an understanding of each driver’s role. Yet his acknowledgement that Lewis Hamilton would never willingly accept a supporting position highlights precisely why establishing such a hierarchy at Ferrari could prove so difficult.
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