Ferrari faces internal tensions following the Mexican Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc attacked Lewis Hamilton on the first lap, resulting in both drivers losing victory and Max Verstappen claiming the trophy, as RacingNews365 reported.
Charles Leclerc seized the lead during the race before receiving a five-second time penalty, according to F1journaal.be – Dagelijks Formule 1 nieuws. Na het raceweekend volgde er een grondig gesprek tussen Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc en Ferrari.
The first-lap collision triggered immediate scrutiny regarding Ferrari’s driver management strategy. Team principal Fred Vasseur maintained his stance that the team operates without a designated number-one driver, leaving both Hamilton and Leclerc on equal footing. Verstappen criticized this philosophy, arguing that teams need a clear hierarchy to prevent intra-team battles.
“If you just had one clear number one and one clear number two, they would have just driven through that corner as number one and two,” said Max Verstappen, four-time Formula 1 world champion, in an interview with Viaplay reported by F1journaal.be – Dagelijks Formule 1 nieuws.
Verstappen pointed to Red Bull Racing’s operational model as a successful precedent for managing driver dynamics, noting that Red Bull operates with a first driver and a supportive second driver, exemplified by Sergio Perez securing Max Verstappen’s first championship and earning the title of “Mexican Minister of Defense” for holding up Lewis Hamilton.
Meanwhile, former Haas team principal Günther Steiner questioned whether Hamilton possesses the qualities needed to lead Ferrari back to championship success. Steiner compared Hamilton’s current stint to Fernando Alonso’s previous unsuccessful bid to lift the Scuderia.
“To strong drivers, they took over and made a success of it, but Fernando Alonso tried it as well. Did he succeed? No. Do you think Lewis is the right guy to get this done?” asked Günther Steiner in The Red Flags Podcast, as covered by Motorsport.
Strategic Pit Stop Errors in São Paulo
Steiner criticized Hamilton for reacting too slowly during changing weather conditions in the closing stages of the race.
The British driver pitted one lap too late for intermediate tyres after spinning his car. Steiner placed the decision-making responsibility directly on the driver rather than the pit wall.
“First of all, I would say he was very lucky that he didn’t destroy the car when he spun,” said Steiner, according to RacingNews365. “Ultimately it’s the driver who makes the decision, because he is the one driving on the track.”
Steiner added that drivers possess the essential sensory feedback from the tarmac that radar screens in the garage cannot replicate. Damon Hill, the 1996 Formula 1 world champion, offered a contrasting perspective on team support.
Hill argued in Sky Sports’ The F1 Show that Ferrari must throw its full backing behind Hamilton to help secure a record eighth world title, noting that Leclerc appears to race against his teammate rather than for the constructor’s championship goals, as reported by Headliner.nl.
Lewis Hamilton switched to Ferrari in 2025
When did Lewis Hamilton join Ferrari?
Lewis Hamilton switched to Ferrari in 2025 after a period at Mercedes, as described by Motorsport.
How many world championships has Max Verstappen won?
Max Verstappen is a four-time Formula 1 world champion, according to reporting by f1journaal.be.
What specific incident prompted the debate over Ferrari’s team orders?
The debate intensified after a first-lap collision between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Mexican Grand Prix cost both drivers a potential race victory, which was ultimately won by Verstappen, as reported by RacingNews365.
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