Ferrari’s Hamilton-Leclerc Tensions: Guenther Steiner Suggests Vasseur May Have to Draw a Line
The former Haas team principal believes Ferrari’s internal driver rivalry could force Fred Vasseur into an uncomfortable decision, while Lewis Hamilton insists he will not apologise for speaking openly about the team’s problems.
Ferrari’s increasingly public disagreement between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has prompted former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner to suggest that Fred Vasseur may eventually have to take a much tougher approach with his drivers.
The comments follow the Mexican Grand Prix, where an opening-lap confrontation between the two Ferrari teammates potentially cost the Scuderia a race victory and a possible one-two finish.
Hamilton started from pole position in Mexico, with Leclerc moving into second place ahead of George Russell. Ferrari appeared to have established a favourable position early in the race, but the situation deteriorated when the two teammates fought for the lead through the opening corners.
At Turn 4, both Ferrari drivers ran wide. Leclerc emerged ahead after cutting across the grass, while Hamilton lost momentum and subsequently lost position to Max Verstappen.
Leclerc received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off the track. However, Verstappen had already positioned himself between the two Ferraris, eventually taking the lead and going on to win the race.
Hamilton finished second, while Leclerc crossed the line in fourth.
Hamilton wants answers from Ferrari
Hamilton was openly frustrated following the incident, arguing that Ferrari had the pace to secure both first and second positions.
He called for serious discussions behind closed doors, suggesting that the team’s approach to managing its drivers needed to change.
The disagreement was not entirely unexpected. Hamilton and Leclerc have experienced several competitive flashpoints during the season, including their earlier confrontation at the Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton has previously questioned whether Ferrari has sufficiently clear rules of engagement between its drivers, particularly when they are competing for important positions.
On November 5, ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix, Hamilton reiterated that he would not apologise for expressing his frustrations.
Speaking to reporters, he said:
“I wear my heart on my sleeve when I say how I feel in the moment. I’m never going to apologise for being authentic and real. I’m not going to be silenced.”
He also maintained that further discussions were necessary within Ferrari.
Importantly, Hamilton has not announced an intention to leave Ferrari, nor has he publicly demanded that the team send Leclerc home.
Steiner proposes a tougher approach
Speaking on the Red Flags Podcast, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner discussed the situation facing his friend, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.
Steiner acknowledged that having two drivers capable of winning races is an advantage, but suggested that their individual ambitions could become a problem when they interfere with the team’s objectives.
He described it as a difficult situation for Vasseur, explaining that Ferrari has two talented drivers who are getting in each other’s way.
Steiner questioned whether the situation would actually be resolved, suggesting that the rivalry could surface again because both drivers ultimately want to win.
He then proposed a considerably tougher message that Vasseur could eventually deliver:
“Hey guys, if you don’t work for the team, we send you home.”
The statement was Steiner’s proposed ultimatum, not a warning issued by Vasseur and certainly not a demand made by Hamilton.
Steiner’s argument was that Ferrari cannot allow its drivers to repeatedly compromise the team’s results through their internal battles.
Nico Rosberg also calls for intervention
Former Mercedes driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg also weighed in on the situation.
Having experienced an intense rivalry with Hamilton during their time together at Mercedes, Rosberg understands the difficulties that can emerge when two competitive drivers share a garage.
His position was that Vasseur needs to establish precisely what is acceptable and what is not when the drivers compete against one another.
Rosberg argued that without clear racing guidelines, drivers could eventually take matters into their own hands on the circuit, potentially creating even greater problems for the team.
His comments reinforce the central issue facing Ferrari: establishing boundaries without undermining the competitive independence of either driver.
What happens next?
As of November 5, Hamilton, Leclerc and Vasseur had not yet completed the in-depth discussions surrounding the Mexican incident.
Leclerc had returned home following the birth of his first child, while Vasseur had also been back in Europe at Ferrari’s factory. Hamilton confirmed that a face-to-face conversation still needed to take place during the São Paulo race weekend.
For Ferrari, the issue extends beyond the loss of one potential victory.
The team has invested heavily in assembling a driver lineup capable of challenging for championships. However, having two drivers with championship ambitions also requires a management structure capable of preventing individual competition from becoming a liability.
Steiner’s suggestion that Vasseur could eventually threaten to send one or both drivers home is an opinion about how the situation might be managed, not an indication that Ferrari is considering dismissing either driver.
For now, there is no confirmed announcement of disciplinary action, no publicly documented ultimatum from Vasseur and no statement from Hamilton threatening to walk away.
What is clear is that Hamilton wants changes, Leclerc has defended his decision to race for the position, and Ferrari’s management must now address a disagreement that has become increasingly difficult to keep behind closed doors.
The next test will be whether Vasseur can establish clear rules between his drivers without compromising the competitive strength that made the pairing so attractive in the first place.
