Just In: Lewis knew it, it’s clear in the contract’ – Ferrari boss confirms…Read more

Just In: Lewis knew it, it’s clear in the contract’ – Ferrari boss confirms Hamilton vs Leclerc truth

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has provided fresh clarity on the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, insisting that the team’s two star drivers were always expected to compete on equal terms.

Vasseur’s comments come after a turbulent period for Ferrari, with Hamilton and Leclerc coming under increasing scrutiny following their on-track clash at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The incident intensified questions about whether Ferrari would eventually be forced to choose between its two drivers, particularly with Hamilton having emerged as the team’s stronger championship contender at different stages of the 2026 campaign.

However, Vasseur has made Ferrari’s position clear: the team deliberately operates with two drivers who are treated as number ones.

According to Vasseur, this arrangement was not something Hamilton discovered after joining Ferrari. Instead, he said the seven-time world champion understood the philosophy before committing himself to the Maranello outfit.

“Lewis knew it. It’s clear in the contract,” Vasseur said, explaining that Ferrari had deliberately chosen an approach in which both drivers would receive equal treatment. 

The Ferrari boss described the policy as a strategic decision rather than a temporary response to the current championship situation. While some Formula 1 teams traditionally establish a clear number one driver and a supporting teammate, Vasseur said Ferrari had chosen a different route.

For Ferrari, that means both Hamilton and Leclerc are expected to have the opportunity to fight for victories when circumstances allow.

Vasseur also acknowledged that the situation could change if the championship picture becomes sufficiently clear. Should one Ferrari driver emerge as the team’s only realistic title contender, he suggested that driver could effectively become the priority.

That possibility is particularly significant given the current championship standings and Hamilton’s position within Ferrari.

The comments follow the controversial opening-lap battle between the teammates at Monza. Hamilton was forced off the circuit during his fight with Leclerc, losing positions and ultimately finishing sixth, while Leclerc later retired after crashing.

Leclerc subsequently accepted responsibility for his part in the incident after reviewing the footage. The two drivers also spoke privately and said they had resolved the disagreement. 

Despite Hamilton previously calling for clearer rules governing how Ferrari teammates should race one another, no formal written “rules of engagement” were introduced following the Monza incident.

Instead, both drivers have maintained that they respect one another and that their relationship remains strong.

That is an important distinction as Ferrari attempts to manage one of the most high-profile driver pairings on the current Formula 1 grid.

Hamilton joined Ferrari from Mercedes for the 2025 season after signing a multi-year agreement. His move created enormous expectations, with the Briton seeking an eighth world championship and Ferrari hoping his experience could help return the team to the front of the championship battle.

Leclerc, meanwhile, has been Ferrari’s long-term project since joining the team in 2019. Ferrari confirmed a new multi-year agreement for the Monegasque driver earlier this year, keeping him with the Scuderia for the coming seasons. 

The contrasting backgrounds of the two drivers make Ferrari’s equal-status philosophy particularly significant. Hamilton arrived as one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, while Leclerc has spent years establishing himself as the team’s leading figure and one of the sport’s most accomplished talents.

Vasseur’s latest comments suggest Ferrari has no immediate intention of abandoning that balance.

Instead, the team appears prepared to allow Hamilton and Leclerc to race each other while expecting both drivers to respect the wider interests of Ferrari.

That approach could become increasingly important as the season progresses. If both drivers remain mathematically capable of competing for major results, Ferrari may continue to face difficult strategic decisions over team orders, qualifying positions and race-day priorities.

For now, however, Vasseur’s message is straightforward: Hamilton knew what he was signing up for.

Ferrari chose to have two number-one drivers, and the team’s principal says that philosophy remains unchanged.

The real test will come when the championship battle becomes even tighter and Ferrari must decide whether equal treatment can continue — or whether circumstances eventually demand a different approach.