MONZA, Italy — Lewis Hamilton has called for Ferrari to introduce written “rules of engagement” between its drivers after a costly opening-lap clash with teammate Charles Leclerc turned the Italian Grand Prix into a nightmare for the Scuderia.
Hamilton and Leclerc started Ferrari’s home race from the second row, raising hopes among the thousands of Tifosi packed into Monza. But those hopes quickly unraveled.
The two Ferrari drivers battled aggressively through the opening corners, with Hamilton forced onto the gravel at Turn 2 after contact with Leclerc. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion dropped from fourth to around 10th, losing crucial ground in both the race and the championship battle.
Leclerc initially continued but crashed out early in the race, leaving Hamilton as Ferrari’s only remaining car. The Briton eventually recovered to finish sixth in what became a deeply disappointing home Grand Prix for the Italian team.
Hamilton: Ferrari Has ‘No Rules’
After the race, Hamilton openly questioned Ferrari’s management of its two drivers and said the team needed clearer internal guidelines.
He compared Ferrari’s approach with his previous experience at Mercedes, where teammates were governed by established rules when racing each other.
Hamilton said Ferrari currently lacked such a framework and suggested that the situation needed to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The clash was particularly costly because Hamilton entered the race still within reach of the championship leaders. Instead, the result left him 76 points behind Mercedes driver and championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who produced one of the most remarkable performances of the season to win at Monza after starting 19th on the grid.
Hamilton and Leclerc Disagree Over What Happened
The incident has also exposed a difference of opinion between Ferrari’s two drivers.
Leclerc admitted after the race that the pair had gone too far during their opening-lap battle. However, Hamilton rejected the suggestion that both drivers shared equal responsibility.
Hamilton maintained that he was ahead heading into Turn 2 and believed Leclerc should have left him more room.
Former world champion Nico Rosberg also sided with Hamilton, saying the situation was straightforward and arguing that Leclerc was responsible for leaving sufficient space once Hamilton had established position.
Leclerc, meanwhile, pushed back against suggestions that there was a growing personal feud inside Ferrari and questioned the narrative portraying the two teammates as being at war with each other.
Ferrari Boss Admits the Team Must Discuss Its Future Approach
The controversy comes after growing debate over whether Ferrari should begin prioritizing one driver for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Hamilton has been closer to the championship fight than Leclerc, but after Monza, the seven-time champion suggested that any decision to build the team’s strategy around him may already have come too late.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the opening-lap outcome was bad for the team and said the issue of team orders and driver management would need to be discussed internally.
The Italian Grand Prix also highlighted wider frustrations for Hamilton, who questioned elements of Ferrari’s race strategy, including tyre decisions and the team’s choice not to bring him in during a later virtual safety car period. Ferrari defended its strategy by pointing to the car’s difficulty overtaking on Monza’s high-speed layout.
A Painful Day in Front of the Tifosi
The result was especially difficult for Ferrari because Monza is the team’s spiritual home.
More than 403,000 fans attended the race weekend, according to Formula 1 figures cited in Reuters reporting, but Ferrari’s hopes of delivering a memorable home victory collapsed within the opening stages. Leclerc was out of the race, Hamilton finished sixth, and Mercedes gained significant championship ground.
For Hamilton, the frustration appears to extend beyond a single racing incident.
His call for written rules of engagement suggests Ferrari may now need to confront a bigger question: Can Hamilton and Leclerc continue racing freely against each other, or does the team need a clearer system before more championship points disappear?
With the championship gap widening and internal tensions now under intense scrutiny, Ferrari’s next decision could be just as important as its next upgrade.
Because after Monza, the biggest battle at Ferrari may no longer be against Mercedes — it could be over how Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc race each other.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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