Vasseur Lays Down the Law for Hamilton and Leclerc at Ferrari
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Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur's sent a firm reminder to his two drivers about what he expects from them going forward. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been getting closer in the championship battle, with the gap now sitting at just 31 points after Leclerc's recent wins at Silverstone, Belgium, and Hungary. The pair had already shown they can race wheel-to-wheel respectfully in China earlier in the season, but Vasseur wanted to make absolutely clear how things need to operate at the Scuderia.
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In an interview, Vasseur emphasized that both drivers must respect the team just as the team respects them. He's demanding they behave correctly and work together to push each other toward better performances. The Ferrari principal is pleased that his drivers give 110 percent every lap, even in free practice sessions where the main focus is beating their teammate. So far, Vasseur's managed to avoid the sort of public drama that's plagued other top teams this season, which is something he's keen to maintain.
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Compared to some of his rivals, Vasseur's actually got it pretty easy. Mercedes saw Kimi Antonelli and George Russell come to blows in Canada, while McLaren's pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had their own clash in 2025 at the same venue. But Red Bull? Well, they don't have these problems because they're really only focused on one driver, and Vasseur couldn't resist firing in a cheeky dig at that reality.
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Vasseur pointed out that for Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari, driver comparison is a huge part of performance development. The standings shift week to week depending on who's got the upper hand, and that's just how it works at those teams. He suggested Red Bull's situation is different, hinting that their single-driver focus means they don't benefit from that same competitive dynamic. It's a subtle but pointed observation about how the championship contenders are operating differently this season.
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