Hamilton slams Ferrari for lacking clear internal rules after Leclerc collision at Monza

The Formula 1 race at Monza was a disaster for Ferrari on home soil. Charles Leclerc retired after a first-lap collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton, while Hamilton could only finish sixth. The result cost Ferrari valuable points in the battle for both championships. But the biggest story was Hamilton’s public criticism of the team management, especially Fred Vasseur, and his demand for clearer internal rules. The incident happened early, right after the lights went out. Hamilton started fourth, Leclerc third. At Turn 2, Hamilton believed he was ahead on the inside, but Leclerc forced him wide, dropping him down the order. Moments later, Leclerc lost control and crashed into the barriers, ending his home race. Ferrari’s remaining car struggled to recover and crossed the line in P6. Hamilton did not hide his frustration. He said he was ahead at the corner and there was no “both cars racing” situation. He accused Leclerc of not leaving enough space. He also insisted he always races cleanly and fairly, respecting his teammate’s space since joining Ferrari. “I was ahead at Turn 2. At the apex, I was ahead. There was no ‘us’ in that. It was very bad for the team and obviously cost us a lot of positions,” Hamilton said. He then praised his own approach: “I don’t race dirty. I have always raced cleanly and fairly, and I have always left space.” More notably, Hamilton turned his criticism toward team boss Fred Vasseur. He said decisions come from the top, starting with Vasseur, and that there is a limit to how much drivers can insist. He warned that continuing down the same path will produce the same result. In his view, Ferrari needs “rules of engagement” to avoid future collisions. Hamilton recalled his time at Mercedes with Nico Rosberg. He explained that Mercedes had clear written rules governing on-track battles between teammates. Although there were tense moments, the framework worked most of the time. At Ferrari, he claims, such rules do not exist, and the team must change that. The collision at Monza was not a simple racing incident. It highlighted deeper governance issues within Ferrari. Two highly competitive drivers — one a 41-year-old seven-time champion, the other a 27-year-old team mainstay — cannot be left without clear guidelines. Without structure, their battles threaten to destroy the team’s season. Strategically, the incident was a classic example of teammates costing their team points. Instead of working together, they treated each other as rivals. Data and telemetry cannot solve the problem if the drivers do not trust each other. Ferrari needs clear, enforceable rules, similar to Mercedes’ approach with Hamilton and Rosberg. Vasseur must establish those rules now, before more points are lost. Hamilton’s public outburst may be uncomfortable, but it is also constructive. He is not simply demanding an apology; he is asking for a system. That is the mark of an experienced leader. Ferrari must decide whether to accept the lesson or risk repeating the same fate at a circuit where red cars are supposed to shine.