Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur says he reminded Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc that the team comes first after their first-lap clash in Mexico in a meeting ahead of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The lap-one incident between the Ferrari drivers in last Sunday’s race, which saw both cars run wide track at Turn Four in battle for the lead, ultimately opened the door for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win the race.
Hamilton has subsequently been critical of Leclerc in interviews and said that discussions were required to more clearly define their rules of combat to avoid costly repeats in future.
Vasseur confirmed talks did take place on Thursday evening at Interlagos.
“We did it [talked] yesterday evening because I had to fly back to Europe between the two races, but it went well,” said Vasseur in Friday’s team principals’ press conference.
“It was good to discuss, good to clarify my position and their position – that it was good to do.
“Now we turn the page and we are focused on the next one.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Asked about the detail of the meeting, Vasseur said: “The guidelines is still the same. They accumulated perhaps a bit of frustration because they are starting each weekend side by side, and you have a kind of accumulation of fact.
“But at the end of the day, the guideline is always the same – it’s that they need to respect each other.
“They are two competitors with the fighting spirit for sure, but they need to have a respect for the other one.
“But mainly and firstly, they need to respect the brand, the team, the people working at home, the people working at the on track.
“I think we are putting a lot of effort on this, and the message was clear and will stay clear.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Pressed on whether the drivers had agreed in the meeting that they would be able to work together in future to ensure Ferrari win races, Vasseur replied: “When I said that the message was clear, it’s that overall, I think it’s true for Ferrari, but it’s true for every single team on the grid is that they are working for the team and the team has to come first.
“For sure, in this situation, we failed collectively because that we were one-two and we didn’t win the race at the end. It’s clear that we failed, and we have to react, but the conclusion of the meeting yesterday evening was clear, that it was a clear reminder that the Ferrari is coming first, coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the Tifosi and this we have to keep it in mind.”
‘I will deal with the negative’ – Vasseur happy to manage competitive pairing
After a difficult first year in red for Hamilton in 2025, the Ferrari team-mates have proved one of the most closely-matched on the grid this year with little to choose in their head-to-head records.
Leclerc leads qualifying 10-9 while Hamilton is ahead by the same score for race-day results.
Third-placed Hamilton is 14 points ahead of Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship with four races to go, with the team set to finish second to Mercedes in the constructors’ standings – a two-place improvement on last year.
And while Vasseur acknowledges that the events of Mexico were probably a “downside” to having two fast drivers in the same team, he said he would prefer to have that situation and to deal with the flashpoints.
“We have two experienced guys, two competitive guys,” he said. “Now it’s four or five races in a row that we are at the front, scoring the highest number of points after Monza or Madrid.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“For sure, you have a kind of escalation that you all want to win races, and I think it’s probably the downside of the system is that we have two competitive guys starting each weekend next to each other.
“But I think if we are P2 today [in the Constructors’ Championship], it’s also because we have two guys very, very close, and we have to manage it.
“But it’s a choice. It’s a choice in the line-up, and I have the positive and the negative. But I will deal with the negative.”
He also played down Hamilton’s suggestion on Thursday that Leclerc raced him harder than drivers at rival teams.
“He said that he was fighting a bit harder with him than with some other [drivers],” said Vasseur.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“But if you have a look on what Charles did in in Austin in the first section, everybody said that he was magic.
“The line is fine between the two, but he didn’t crash into the other car, also. That was not an aggression.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Sao Paulo GP Schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Saturday November 7
2.15pm: Sao Paulo Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 2.30pm)*
5pm: Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
6pm: SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 8
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX*
7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo City GP reaction
8pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW