Vasseur’s Message to Hamilton and Leclerc After Mexico: ‘Ferrari Is Coming First’

Frederic Vasseur says he met Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Brazil after their Mexico clash with one message: Ferrari comes first.

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Ferrari team boss Vasseur confirmed the meeting with Hamilton and Leclerc in Brazil ahead of F1 weekend, following their moment in Mexico and the Brit’s verbal outburst. The Frenchman didn’t wish to expand on what was discussed, but he said it was a positive talk.

Vasseur reminded the two who they raced for and how they should behave. He didn’t dwell as much on what Mercedes boss Toto Wolff used to do when handling Hamilton and Nico Rosberg back in the day when they collided often.

Vasseur Met Them on Thursday Evening

“We did it yesterday evening because I had to fly back to Europe between the two races, but it went well,” said Vasseur in Friday’s press conference. “It was good to discuss, good to clarify my position and their position. It was good to do, and now we turn the page, and we are focused on the next one.”

Asked by Sky’s Ted Kravitz whether the drivers had agreed to work together for a Ferrari win, Vasseur said the conclusion of the meeting was “a clear reminder that the Ferrari is coming first. It’s coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the tifosi, and this we have to keep in mind.”

“First, I’m not sure that Toto 10 years ago told you exactly the content of the discussion with Nico and Lewis, and I will do exactly the same: we had a discussion. It has to stay private. It’s a matter of respect also for them and for the team, and, once again, the most important thing is the message. The message is that we are working for a brand.

“We are working for sponsors, we are working for, but I would say probably mainly also the employees of the team, and we had a good recovery in terms of performance. We came back after Madrid in much better shape, and this is due to the work of the people at home.

“And we are all, as a team, we all have to keep this in mind that it’s not due to the wind or whatever. It’s due to the work of the people and the employees of the company, and it was the tone of the message,” summed up Vasseur. He also questioned whether Hamilton had really said Leclerc races him harder than his previous teammates.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Image Credit: Scuderia Ferrari

Vasseur Questions Hamilton’s Claim About Leclerc

“Well, I’m not sure that he said something like that,” the Ferrari chief said. “He said that he was fighting for him a bit harder with him than with some other. If you have a look at what Charles did in Austin in the first section, everybody said that he was magic, and the line is fine between the two.

“But he didn’t crash into the other car also; that was not an aggression,” summed up Vasseur, who reckons the rules of engagement are still the same, in terms of the two knowing their position and having to respect each other. But the bigger stake is the respect of Ferrari and the F1 team.

The Guidelines Haven’t Changed

Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Image Credit: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

“Well, the guidelines are still the same; I see the accumulated, perhaps a bit of frustration because they are starting each weekend side by side, and you have a kind of accumulation of facts,” said Vasseur. “But at the end of the day, the guidelines are always the same.

“It’s that they need to respect each other, that they are two competitors with a fighting spirit for sure, but they need to have respect for the other. But mainly and firstly, they need to respect the brand, the team, the people working at home, the people working on track. I think we are putting a lot of effort into this, and the message was clear and will stay clear.”

Asked about Hamilton’s comments, Vasseur said he would keep that private as well. “But this I was clear with Lewis, and I will keep it between Lewis and me,” he said.

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