Ferrari F1 boss hits back at Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Hungary, 2026 — Photo: © IMAGO

Ferrari F1

Ferrari F1 boss hits back at Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Ferrari drivers told to 'protect the team'

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Friday 11 September 2026 08:59

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Ferrari F1 boss Fred Vasseur has hit back at drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following the fallout from Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

The iconic team suffered a miserable afternoon at the 'Temple of Speed' with Leclerc crashing out early and Hamilton finishing a distant P6. This after the pair had collided with each other on Lap 1, costing Hamilton several positions.

The aftermath was acrimonious, with Hamilton again critical of team strategy and bemoaning a lack of clear rules of engagement on track. He also put the blame squarely on Leclerc for their on-track contact.

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Those comments - whether intentional or not - put the pressure squarely on 58-year-old team principal Vasseur with his role the subject of frenzied speculation this week.

Now the Frenchman has issued his first public statement since Sunday, essentially telling his drivers to be more like him by putting the interests of their team first.

Hamilton and Leclerc told: 'Take responsibility, protect the team'

Speaking to Motorsport Italia, Vasseur said: "We had some good meetings with Lewis and Charles.

"They clarified things together, and I reminded them of some of the fundamental principles of my team management approach. And I will continue to follow them.

“I reminded Lewis that when we won the race in Melbourne two years ago thanks to strategy, I sent Ravin Jain [head of race strategy] to the podium, because it was right to reward him.

"When we lost a race because of strategy, I went in front of the television and put my face on the line.

"My job is to protect the hundreds of people on the team and take responsibility.

"That's what I also asked the drivers: if we want to achieve results, we must protect the team and each take responsibility.”

Vasseur told his drivers to take responsibility.

Drivers warned of media minefield

Vasseur stopped short of gagging his drivers, but says he did make the point that anything they say can quickly become an unwanted headline.

"I'm not asking them not to be open or harsh. But very often they're much calmer with us than they are when they speak to the press.

"Lewis told me, 'Fred, 80% of my message was positive, and they took the 20% negative'.

"But we all know how it works. If you say the team is doing a good job and then add a 'but,' that part will become the headline. It's part of the game."