Ferrari had to settle for fifth and sixth place in China, with Charles Leclerc driving the entire race with a damaged car and Lewis Hamilton never truly managing to get into the fight. Adding to the mix were team orders, on-track contact, and post-race comments that suggest a positive atmosphere within the Ferrari camp.
But let’s start from the beginning. Right after the first corner, there was contact between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, which damaged the front wing of the Monegasque’s Ferrari. At the end of the race, Charles Leclerc defended his teammate, stating, “Honestly, it’s not Lewis’ fault at all. I was on the inside, trying to position the car for Turn 3, and he couldn’t have known I was there.”
Lewis Hamilton vs. Charles Leclerc in China: team orders and more
But this wasn’t the only instance where Charles Leclerc defended Lewis Hamilton. At one point, the Briton himself requested a position swap after realizing he had less pace than his teammate. However, he then delayed the swap, effectively ignoring a team order.
The moment may have seemed highly intense, but once again, Charles Leclerc offered a response that diffused any potential controversy. When interviewed by F1TV and asked, “What do you think about Hamilton ignoring the team order?”—a question clearly meant to provoke—Charles Leclerc didn’t take the bait.
“I think it’s a complicated situation for the team. I also put myself in Lewis’ shoes. Everyone knew I had front wing damage, and with that damage, there was always uncertainty about how the car would perform and whether I would still have the same pace. The damage was quite significant, so I understand that there might have been some hesitation, but it’s a completely normal situation.”
In short, Charles Leclerc is proving to be a true team player, and in China, he did everything possible to steer clear of any controversy over what happened on track.
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