The internal rivalry at Ferrari between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has entered a new chapter, and the team chief, Fred Vasseur, made a point of setting boundaries for the two drivers. Vasseur stated that both must respect internal rules as they fight for positions on the track.
Hamilton initially opened a solid lead over Leclerc at the start of the season, but the scene has changed since Silverstone. Leclerc won for the first time this year precisely at the British Grand Prix and went on to again outpace his teammate in the following races, in Belgium and Hungary, narrowing the gap between them to 31 points.
As the contest becomes more evenly matched, the drivers tend to share the track more frequently in the second half of the season. In China, they had already staged a wheel-to-wheel duel, maintaining respect but pushing to the limit.
Vasseur told AutoHebdo that he expects proper conduct from both within the team: “They must respect the team, just as we respect them, and they must behave properly,” he said. The Frenchman also stressed that the internal rivalry contributes to Ferrari’s development, as both push each other for better results.
“I see them working together and pressuring each other to deliver better performances. As a result, we are also progressing, because they give 110% on every lap,” continued Vasseur. According to him, this competitiveness shows up even during free practice, when the main concern of both is to finish ahead of the team-mate.
The Ferrari chief also compared the situation with that of other teams: “Part of the performance always comes from the comparison between the two drivers,” he added, citing McLaren and Mercedes as structures facing a similar duel. Regarding Red Bull Racing, Vasseur noted that this dynamic applies ‘to a lesser extent’, referring to the fact that the team concentrates more on a single driver, Max Verstappen.
For Vasseur, the rotation between the drivers is part of the internal competition within a Formula 1 team: “One week one is ahead, and the next week it’s exactly the opposite. That’s part of the game,” he added.
