‘Ferrari is coming first’ says Vassuer on heated team battles

Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur has laid down the core rule between their drivers stating the team ‘is coming first’ after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s heated Mexico battle.

Feature image credit: Ferrari Media Centre

Heading into the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Ferrari were still feeling the heat of their inter-team fight at the Mexico City Grand Prix last time out, with Hamilton claiming talks need to take place between himself and teammate, Leclerc.

Vassuer has claimed he managed to have a conversation with the two drivers on Thursday, claiming it went well, after flying back to Europe between the race weekends.

The team boss expressed the drivers have had their position and his position clarified in those conversations, leaving a message that the two competitors have to ‘respect the brand.’

Speaking in the FIA press conference, Vasseur said:

“When I said that the message was clear, it’s that I think it’s true for Ferrari, but it’s true for every single team on the grid: they are working for the team, and the team has to come first.

“For sure, in this situation, we failed collectively because we were one-two and we didn’t win the race at the end. That means it’s clear that we failed, and we have to react. But, yes, the conclusion of the meeting yesterday evening was clear. It was a clear reminder that Ferrari is coming first.

“It’s coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the Tifosi, and this, we have to keep it in mind.”

Champion Kimi Antonelli takes fastest lap in Sao Paulo Grand Prix FP2

At the Mexico City GP, the two Ferrari drivers found themselves in an unnecessary skirmish in the opening lap around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Leclerc pressured Hamilton in the opening lap, with the two nearly coming to blows through the opening corners.

Leclerc eventually gained the lead over Hamilton, at turn four, after both drivers ran wide, with the Monegasque cutting the following corner and earning himself a five-second penalty for the incident.

Hamilton slipped down the order, unable to recover his pole position and the lead of the race.

Hamilton managed to come home in second place, between Red Bull’s winner Max Verstappen and Mercedes championship-winner Kimi Antonelli. However, Hamilton claimed he was ‘really p***ed‘ by the ordeal.

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.