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Ferrari leadership has expressed concern following a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix, signaling that the internal conflict between the two drivers is damaging the team’s interests. The incident occurred at the opening corner of the race, with Hamilton subsequently accusing Leclerc of forcing him off track. Although race stewards declined to penalize either driver, the clash had significant consequences, costing Hamilton six positions and ultimately contributing to a disappointing sixth-place finish.
Hamilton has been vocal in his criticism following the incident, insisting he bears no responsibility and calling for formal “rules of engagement” similar to those he operated under at Mercedes. He emphasized his commitment to clean racing and rejected Leclerc’s suggestion that both drivers shared blame. Team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that the Turn 1-2 outcome was detrimental to Ferrari’s objectives. Hamilton currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 76 points with ten races remaining, a deficit equivalent to more than three race victories.
Vasseur defended his decision against implementing immediate team orders favoring Hamilton, comparing the situation to McLaren’s previous experience with multiple title contenders. He suggested that freezing driver positions mid-season would have been premature before Monza. Meanwhile, Hamilton has indicated that it is now “far too late” for Ferrari to realign its strategy to support his championship bid, effectively conceding that the internal friction has cost him a realistic opportunity at a record eighth world title.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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