BREAKING: Ferrari’s Monza Drama Deepens: Hamilton Talks, Shock Departure and…See Detail 

Ferrari’s Monza Drama Deepens: Hamilton Talks, Shock Departure and…

Ferrari head into their home Italian Grand Prix with plenty of attention on and off the track. The Scuderia has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were involved in a lengthy discussion with team principal Fred Vasseur following the strategy controversy at the Dutch Grand Prix, while a senior Ferrari engineer has departed the organisation after more than two decades.

At the same time, Hamilton has provided one of the most talked-about arrivals of the Monza weekend, while reigning world champion Lando Norris has announced an ambitious new project designed to develop the next generation of racing drivers.

Ferrari hold talks with Hamilton and Leclerc after Zandvoort controversy

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed that he held a one-hour conversation with Hamilton and Leclerc on the Monday following the Dutch Grand Prix.

The meeting came after both Ferrari drivers were left frustrated by the team’s decision-making during the race at Zandvoort.

Hamilton finished fourth, with Leclerc fifth, but the result could have been considerably stronger. Hamilton was particularly unhappy after Ferrari kept him out on track for an extended period while his rivals benefited from fresher tyres.

The seven-time world champion questioned the strategy over team radio during the race, while Leclerc was also unhappy with aspects of Ferrari’s tyre decisions.

Vasseur has since explained that the strategy was partly designed to avoid giving information to Ferrari’s rivals. According to the Ferrari boss, the team had considered keeping Hamilton out until the end before the late Virtual Safety Car changed the situation.

Rather than allowing the disagreement to linger, Vasseur said Ferrari immediately addressed the issue with both drivers.

He explained that the hour-long discussion allowed the team to go through the decisions made during the race, explain the reasoning behind them and then move on to the next challenge.

That could prove important heading into Monza, where Ferrari will be under enormous pressure to deliver a strong result in front of the home crowd.

Ferrari engineer Thierry Baritaud leaves after 26 years

Ferrari have also experienced a major change within their technical operation just days before their most important home race of the season.

Thierry Baritaud, a highly experienced French engineer, has left Ferrari after approximately 26 years with the company.