Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has moved to draw a line under the Hamilton-Leclerc Mexico clash by holding a clear-the-air meeting with his drivers ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The discussion took place on Thursday evening at Interlagos, four days after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc ran wide at Turn Four on the opening lap in Mexico City while fighting for the lead.
The incident allowed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to take victory, and Hamilton subsequently criticised Leclerc in interviews, calling for clearer rules of combat to prevent a repeat. Vasseur, who had to fly back to Europe between the two races, confirmed that the three men spoke once he arrived in Brazil.
Vasseur: Talks Were Constructive
Speaking at Friday’s team principals’ press conference, Vasseur described the meeting as productive and said it was important to clarify where both drivers stood. He stressed that the page has now been turned and that Ferrari’s focus is fixed on the weekend ahead.
Asked for detail, Vasseur explained that the team’s guidelines remain unchanged. He suggested that frustration had built up because Hamilton and Leclerc often start races side by side, but he reiterated that the fundamental requirement is mutual respect between the two competitors.
That respect, he added, must extend beyond the cockpit. Vasseur emphasised that the drivers also have a duty to respect the Ferrari brand, the employees at the factory and the staff working at the track. He said the message was unambiguous and would remain so.
Team Comes First
Pressed on whether the pair had agreed to work together to secure wins for Ferrari, Vasseur said the reminder applies to every team on the grid: drivers work for the team, and the team must come first. He acknowledged that Ferrari failed collectively in Mexico, where a one-two was lost, and insisted the team must react.
He described the conclusion of Thursday’s meeting as a clear reminder that Ferrari comes first for the brand, the employees and the Tifosi.
Vasseur also addressed the wider challenge of managing two closely matched drivers. He noted that Hamilton and Leclerc have been evenly matched this year, with Leclerc leading qualifying 10-9 and Hamilton ahead by the same margin in race results. Hamilton sits third in the Drivers’ Championship, 14 points clear of Leclerc with four races remaining, while Ferrari are set to finish second to Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, a two-place improvement on last year.
While Vasseur conceded that incidents like Mexico are a downside of having two fast drivers in the same team, he said he would rather manage that situation than lack competitiveness. He pointed to Ferrari’s recent form, noting that the team has been at the front and scoring heavily in recent races, and argued that their current P2 in the constructors’ championship is partly because the two drivers are so close.
He added that the choice of line-up brings both positives and negatives, and he is prepared to deal with the negatives.
Leclerc's Austin Defence
Vasseur also played down Hamilton’s suggestion that Leclerc races him harder than drivers at rival teams. He referenced Leclerc’s performance in Austin, where his first-sector display drew widespread praise, and said the line between hard racing and aggression is fine, but Leclerc did not crash into the other car and it was not an act of aggression.
With the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend under way, Ferrari will be hoping the meeting has restored calm and that both drivers can channel their competitiveness into a strong result at Interlagos.
