Ferrari chief Vasseur says post-Mexico meeting clarified driver roles and reaffirmed team-first policy
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur held a private debrief with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after the Mexican Grand Prix, emphasizing unchanged internal guidelines and a focus on the team over individual rivalry.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur met with drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in São Paulo on Thursday night for a private review of the opening-lap incident at the Mexican Grand Prix. The three discussed the race, exchanged views and agreed on a path forward, Vasseur said at the team’s press conference on Friday.
"It went well. It was good to discuss, good to clarify my position and their position. It was good to do. Now we turn the page and we are focused on the next one," Vasseur told reporters.
Vasseur stressed that the team’s internal racing guidelines remain unchanged and that personal interests must not outweigh the interests of Ferrari. He reiterated that the drivers are employed by the brand, its sponsors and its staff, and that the recent 1-2 finish that did not yield a victory was a collective failure that must be addressed.
"The guidelines are still the same. The message was clear – they are working for the team and the team has to come first," he added.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, speaking alongside Vasseur, compared Ferrari’s situation to challenges Mercedes faced during the 2014-2016 title battles, suggesting that difficult moments can expose weaknesses and prompt necessary changes.
Vasseur declined to comment on Hamilton’s public remarks after Mexico, saying any discussion with the British driver would remain private. He also defended Leclerc’s aggressiveness, citing the driver’s first-lap move on Max Verstappen in Austin as evidence of his competitiveness.
"I'm not asking them to be best friends. I am asking them to act as professionals," Vasseur said.
Acknowledging the inherent tension of having two top drivers start each race side by side, Vasseur noted that the rivalry is both a strength and a challenge for Ferrari’s championship campaign.
"If we are P2 in the constructors’ championship today, it is also because we have two very close drivers. Managing the downside is part of the choice we made," he concluded.