On a disappointing and difficult day for Scuderia Ferrari at the 2026 F1 Italian GP, Fred Vasseur faced plenty of questions about team tactics and orders. Lewis Hamilton finished P6, while Charles Leclerc had a DNF.
Starting on the second row, Leclerc and Hamilton went at it into the first chicane. As the Brit looked to hold it on the outside of turn 2 with his car marginally ahead at the apex, the driver from Monaco had a small bit of understeer and resulted in the seven-time World Champion taking a trip to the gravel. The driver of car #44 was less than impressed.
With Hamilton now down in 9th, Leclerc’s day ended as he had a massive shunt on power out of Parabolica when battling Oscar Piastri for P4.
From there, Lewis Hamilton had all the Ferrari responsibility on his shoulders. A great initial restart meant the 106-time race winner was up to P3 as he passed the McLarens, Gasly and Lindblad.
However, the lack of straight-line speed because of the horsepower deficit to Mercedes and Red Bull powertrains ultimately dropped him back to 6th. A 49-lap stint on mediums was far from ideal as well.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur on what happened at turns 1 and 2 between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2026 F1 Italian GP
Speaking in his print media session after the race, Fred Vasseur was asked about the incident and if he talked to Lewis Hamilton.
“Yes, I spoke with Lewis for 2 seconds and not at all with Charles, but we will have time to discuss.
Pushed on it, he gave another short answer.
“No, I prefer to discuss with them first.”
Speaking post-qualifying, Lewis Hamilton talked about Ferrari needing to prioritise a driver in the championship fight against Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Heading into the race, the Brit was 28 points clear of teammate Charles Leclerc. That became 36 on Sunday, although the seven-time World Champion is now a massive 76 points behind the Italian driver.
The Frenchman explained that Monza was too early to be considering a #1 and #2 for the rest of the season. As 2025 showed, a comeback is not impossible inside the same team. Lando Norris had trailed Oscar Piastri for the vast majority of the campaign but overhauled him with four rounds left.
Nonetheless, it is something that will be discussed as 10 races and a Sprint remain in the 2026 F1 season.
“For sure, the outcome of turn 1-2 is not good for the team, if it’s the question.
“Now, to see if we have a team order or whatever, I think that the good comparison that I made was that last year, Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season. And if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion.
“But for sure, at one stage you have to take a decision, but I think it was too early to take a decision before Monza. Now we have time to discuss with the guys.”
Would Ferrari have done something similar to Mercedes during the race at Monza?
During the 53-lap contest at Monza on Sunday, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were told to hold station by Mercedes so they could pull a gap on Max Verstappen. The drivers did so and edged way from the Dutchman before the VSC.
When asked if this was discussed by Ferrari before the race, he confirmed it. Nonetheless, Vasseur made it clear how difficult it would be if the team needs to do it at some point this campaign.
“No, but I think we are discussing about this kind of situation before.
“For a team, for sure, it’s never good to lose points. This is clear.
“Now, basically at the beginning of the season, I think every single Team Principal in the world would love to let them race. To freeze positions when you are the Team Principal, don’t imagine that it’s an easy choice.
“You do it for the team, you do it for the results at the end. But it’s never an easy call.
“By definition, I would love to let them race all the weekend.
“Now, by reason, you have to take a decision at one stage. Each team is different. We will have to take a decision and we will decide.”
