Ferrari does not intend to establish a number 1 driver between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, even after the new moment of tension experienced by the duo at the Italian Grand Prix of Formula 1. Fred Vasseur stated that the decision is strategic and that this policy is provided for in the drivers’ contracts.
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Speaking in an interview with L’Equipe, the head of the Italian team explained that Ferrari chose to treat its two drivers equally, in a philosophy similar to that adopted by McLaren. For Vasseur, maintaining two candidates capable of winning is a deliberate choice, even though it may bring difficulties in the championship fight.
“The drivers know this very well when they come to us. Lewis knew. It is clear and written in the contract. It is a strategic choice. Some decide to have a number 1 driver and a number 2, we decided on two number 1s, with advantages and disadvantages that may exist,” said Vasseur.
The manager also used McLaren’s situation in 2025 as a comparison. According to him, when Oscar Piastri had a thirty-point advantage over Lando Norris in Monza last year, the team could have chosen to prioritize the Australian, but decided to keep both equal. In Vasseur’s assessment, a different decision could have paved the way for another title for Max Verstappen.
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This stance by Ferrari was announced after the episode involving Hamilton and Leclerc on the first lap in Monza, when the two cars touched and the seven-time world champion was pushed into the gravel trap, before the Monegasque retired from the race after a heavy crash shortly afterwards. The episode increased pressure for the Italian team to establish a clearer hierarchy between its drivers.
Vasseur, however, rejects a rigid formula to manage internal disputes: “I don’t like this principle, because each situation needs to be interpreted, and there would be discussions anyway,” he added.
For Vasseur, the central point of the team’s policy is respect: “The fundamental aspect is respect, between them, for me, for the staff, for the sponsors, but above all, for Ferrari,” the manager concluded.
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