Ferrari F1 boss ‘annoyed’ with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Maranello crisis…Read more

Just In: Ferrari F1 boss ‘annoyed’ with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Maranello crisis deepens

Ferrari’s difficult 2026 Formula 1 campaign has taken another dramatic turn, with team principal Fred Vasseur reportedly growing frustrated with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following the events of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The Scuderia arrived at its home race carrying enormous expectations, but the weekend quickly descended into disappointment. Hamilton and Leclerc started alongside each other on the second row, only for their battle on the opening lap to become one of the defining moments of Ferrari’s weekend.

Leclerc forced Hamilton wide at the opening chicane while the pair fought for position. Hamilton was sent onto the run-off area and dropped several places, while Leclerc continued before suffering a heavy crash later in the race.

Hamilton eventually recovered to finish sixth, but the incident left Ferrari facing uncomfortable questions about how its two drivers should compete against each other. Leclerc subsequently accepted responsibility after reviewing the incident with Vasseur and speaking directly with Hamilton.

The aftermath has now placed greater attention on Vasseur’s relationship with both Ferrari drivers. Reports from the Spanish Grand Prix suggested that the Ferrari boss appeared visibly frustrated by the situation, with former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher claiming that Vasseur was clearly annoyed with Hamilton and Leclerc following the Monza controversy.

Vasseur himself has been more measured publicly. Ferrari’s team principal has emphasised that incidents between teammates are particularly damaging because the drivers are ultimately competing for the same organisation. The central issue is not simply who was responsible for the Monza clash, but how Ferrari prevents similar situations from compromising valuable championship points in the future.

Hamilton has also made his position clear. The seven-time world champion called for Ferrari to improve the way it manages communication and the relationship between its two drivers. He pointed to his experience at Mercedes, where clearer procedures existed for handling battles between teammates.

Interestingly, Ferrari has not introduced formal written rules of engagement between Hamilton and Leclerc. The two drivers did, however, hold a private conversation after Monza, with Hamilton describing the discussion as open and constructive.

Leclerc also made clear that he did not want the incident to damage his relationship with his teammate. He acknowledged that he had gone too far in the battle and accepted that seeing a Ferrari pushed onto the grass was not the outcome the team wanted.

The internal tension comes at a particularly difficult time for Ferrari. The team has shown enough pace during the season to challenge at the front on certain weekends, but consistency has remained a problem.

The Spanish Grand Prix only added to Ferrari’s frustrations. Hamilton qualified fourth and appeared capable of fighting near the front, but his race ended after just seven laps when a brake problem forced Ferrari to retire his car. The team subsequently began an investigation into the failure.

That retirement effectively ended Hamilton’s hopes of remaining in serious contention for the 2026 drivers’ championship. Kimi Antonelli has established a substantial advantage at the top of the standings, while Mercedes has also built a significant lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.

For Ferrari, the problem is therefore much bigger than one incident between its drivers. The team must find a way to improve its car, strengthen its operational execution and ensure that Hamilton and Leclerc can fight hard without compromising the team’s overall objectives.

The pressure is also increasing around Vasseur. While there has been no confirmed decision to replace him, recent media reports have fuelled speculation about Ferrari’s long-term leadership structure. Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been mentioned in some reports as a possible figure of interest, although there is no confirmed agreement between Horner and Ferrari.

For now, Vasseur remains firmly in charge and Ferrari’s immediate focus is on improving its performance on track.

Hamilton and Leclerc have also moved to close the chapter on their Monza disagreement, with both insisting that their working relationship remains intact. That could be crucial as Ferrari heads into the remaining races of the season.

The challenge for Maranello is now to turn the lessons from Monza into action. The team cannot afford further points to disappear through internal clashes, reliability problems or operational mistakes.

With Mercedes leading the championship and Ferrari still searching for greater consistency, the pressure surrounding the famous Italian team is unlikely to disappear soon.

The coming races will therefore provide an important test not only of Ferrari’s car, but also of its ability to maintain unity, discipline and clear communication when its two star drivers are fighting for position.