Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has addressed the aftermath of the opening-lap battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2026 F1 Mexico City GP, which sparked renewed discussions about prioritising the team’s interests and the rules of engagement between its drivers.
During the team principals’ press conference ahead of the 2026 F1 São Paulo GP, Vasseur confirmed that he had met with both drivers the previous evening. The discussions allowed all parties to clarify their positions and move forward following a race in which Ferrari lost a potential victory despite holding the leading two positions during the opening lap.
“We did it. We did it yesterday evening because I had to fly back to Europe between the two races.
He continued, “It went well. It was good to discuss, good to clarify my position and their position. It was good to do, and now we turn the page, and we are focused on the next one.”
Vasseur reiterates that Ferrari must come first
When asked whether the meeting had resulted in any specific agreements about how Hamilton and Leclerc should approach similar situations in the future, Vasseur emphasised that the message was clear. Both drivers must prioritise the team’s interests, particularly when their battles risk compromising Ferrari’s overall result.
The Frenchman acknowledged that Ferrari had collectively failed to capitalise on its strong position in Mexico City, where the team had an opportunity to secure a significantly better result.
“When I said that the message was clear, it’s that I think it’s true for Ferrari, but it’s true for every single team on the grid: they are working for the team, and the team has to come first.
“For sure, in this situation, we failed collectively because we were one-two and we didn’t win the race at the end.
“That means it’s clear that we failed, and we have to react. But, yes, the conclusion of the meeting yesterday evening was clear.
“It was a clear reminder that Ferrari is coming first. It’s coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the Tifosi, and this, we have to keep it in mind.”
No change to Ferrari’s approach to racing
Despite the latest disagreement between Hamilton and Leclerc, Vasseur does not believe Ferrari needs to introduce new guidelines governing how its drivers race one another. Instead, he considers the existing expectations sufficient, provided both drivers remember their responsibilities to each other and the team.
He also suggested that frustration had gradually accumulated as Hamilton and Leclerc continued finding themselves closely matched during recent race weekends. Although Vasseur welcomes their competitive spirit, he emphasised that their desire to win must not compromise the wider organisation.
“The guidelines are still the same. I think they accumulated perhaps a bit of frustration because they are starting each weekend side by side, and you have a kind of accumulation of that.
“But at the end of the day, the guidelines are always the same: they need to respect each other.
“That they are two competitors with a fighting spirit, for sure, but they need to have respect for the other one.
“But mainly, and firstly, they need to respect the brand, the team, the people working at home and the people working on track.
“I think we are putting a lot of effort into this, and the message was clear and will stay clear.”
Vasseur rejects suggestion that Hamilton and Leclerc cannot race cleanly
Hamilton and Leclerc have engaged in several on-track battles throughout the 2026 F1 season. While their earlier encounters remained relatively straightforward, their recent fights have become increasingly intense as both drivers compete for stronger results.
However, Vasseur rejected the suggestion that the two are unable to race each other cleanly. He pointed out that their battle in Mexico City did not result in contact, despite the attention it attracted.
“Unable is a bit harsh,” Vasseur responded.
“I didn’t see a contact between the two cars, also. It’s taking huge proportions because we were one-two, but there was no contact between the cars. It’s not always like this between two teammates.”
Although the opening-lap battle allowed eventual race winner Max Verstappen to gain a position from Hamilton, while Leclerc subsequently received a penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, Vasseur also highlighted the positives Ferrari could take from the weekend.
The team ultimately scored more points than any of its competitors, even if the result fell short of its expectations.
“For sure, it’s not a good move because when you are one-two, you are expecting to stay one-two, and we didn’t.
“On the top, we took the penalty and this won the race. But overall, we still scored the highest number of points over the weekend.
“I would have preferred to finish P1, for sure, but we have to take it, stay calm and take it step by step.”
Vasseur rejects claims that Leclerc races Hamilton harder
Questions have also emerged over whether Leclerc approaches battles with Hamilton more aggressively than those involving other competitors. Hamilton himself contributed to the discussion following their latest encounter in Mexico City, raising questions about how the two Ferrari drivers race one another.
However, Vasseur rejected that interpretation, pointing towards Leclerc’s battle with Verstappen at the United States GP as evidence that the Monegasque is similarly committed when fighting other drivers.
“I’m not sure that he said something like this. He said that he was fighting probably a bit harder with him than with some others.
“But if you have a look at what Charles did in Austin in the first section, everybody said that he was magic, that the line was fine between the two, but he didn’t crash into the other car, also.”
For Vasseur, Leclerc’s aggressive racing is not necessarily exclusive to his teammate. Rather, the close competition between Ferrari’s drivers has made their on-track battles more prominent, particularly when both are fighting near the front.
Vasseur acknowledges benefits and challenges of competitive driver pairing
Although the rivalry between Hamilton and Leclerc has created challenges for Ferrari, Vasseur also recognises the advantages of having two experienced and highly competitive drivers.
The team has enjoyed a strong run of results during the second half of the season, with both drivers regularly competing near the front. However, their increasingly similar pace has also brought them into direct competition more frequently, creating situations that require careful management.
Vasseur acknowledged that this represents one of the disadvantages of Ferrari’s driver pairing, but believes the benefits have played an important role in the team’s position in the Constructors’ Championship.
“For sure, we have two experienced guys, two competitive guys. There are now four or five races in a row that we are at the front, scoring the highest number of points after Monza and Madrid.
“Then, for sure, you have a kind of escalation because you all want to win races. I think it’s probably the downside of the system, that we have two competitive guys starting each weekend next to each other.
“But I think if we are P2 today, it’s also because we have two guys who are very, very close, and we have to manage it. But it’s a choice. It’s a choice in the line-up, and I have the positive and the negative, but I will deal with the negative.”
With Ferrari occupying second in the Constructors’ Championship, Vasseur remains convinced that the team’s competitive pairing provides more advantages than disadvantages.
However, the discussions following Mexico City underline the importance of balancing individual ambitions with the team’s objectives. As Ferrari prepares for the remaining rounds of the season, Vasseur expects both Hamilton and Leclerc to maintain their competitive approach while ensuring their battles do not compromise the wider team’s interests.
