James Hinchcliffe, former IndyCar driver and current F1 TV pundit, believes that Fred Vasseur is under tremendous pressure to establish clear team orders between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. This comes after a series of difficult races for the Maranello outfit, where tensions between the two drivers have become increasingly evident.
At the Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton and Leclerc finished fourth and fifth, but the seven-time champion was furious over the team radio throughout the race about the lack of team orders. The issue resurfaced at the Italian Grand Prix when both drivers clashed on the opening lap. This incident has brought the spotlight squarely onto Ferrari's management.
Calls for Clear Rules of Engagement
Speaking on F1 TV's Weekend Warm-Up show, Hinchcliffe was asked about the pressure on Vasseur. "A tremendous amount at this point just because it has got to this stage," he said. "We're round 14 of their second year working together and we're still having these sorts of questions. What are the rules of engagement? There are very clear rules at McLaren and there are very clear rules at Mercedes."
Hinchcliffe added that Ferrari seems to lack a firm protocol, and this must be addressed soon. "Whether it's always been missing from Ferrari or just recently hasn't been something they've looked into, it's clearly something that they have to have a discussion about in the near future," he stated.
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Vasseur admitted that there were discussions to be had with Hamilton and Leclerc following the Italian Grand Prix, but dismissed claims of an internal crisis. The Frenchman also explained that there are rules of engagement in place, but added, "you can't expect contracts to cover every possible scenario you might encounter on track, because inevitably everything would become a matter of interpretation."
Focus now shifts to the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit, which will take place on Sunday, 13 September. This race will be a test for Vasseur and Ferrari to demonstrate that they can manage the dynamics between their two top drivers. Pressure from the public and media is mounting, and the result in Spain could indicate whether Ferrari truly has control of the situation.
With a competitive car, Ferrari should be able to fight at the front. However, without clear team orders, potential conflicts between drivers could jeopardize their championship chances. Hinchcliffe highlighted that clarity in rules is key to maintaining harmony and focus on shared goals. Now, the world will be watching how Vasseur handles this situation.
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