Fred Vasseur has conceded that Ferrari has been left with an ugly mess to clean up after its drivers nearly came together on the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix, admitting the flashpoint between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton was “not good for the team”.
What should have been a dream start to Ferrari's home race instead descended into an early dose of intra-team controversy.
Starting alongside each other on the second row, Hamilton launched an attack on Leclerc at the first chicane, but the latter was in no mood to surrender the position.
The Monegasque defended hard through the complex, forcing Hamilton wide at the exit of Turn 2 and sending the seven-time world champion into the gravel.
Hamilton consequently tumbled down the order to 10th, while Leclerc remained in the fight at the front before crashing out of the race on his own at the end of the second lap.
The incident immediately raised uncomfortable questions about Ferrari's decision to continue allowing its drivers to race freely, particularly with Hamilton having emerged as the Scuderia's stronger championship contender against the Mercedes duo.
Leclerc later conceded that the battle “went too far”, while Hamilton was far more guarded, declaring: “there's not really much to say - we'll take it offline.”
Vasseur, meanwhile, was clearly not eager to conduct Ferrari's internal business in public.
No blame apportioned
The Ferrari boss revealed that his post-race conversations with the drivers had barely begun, making it clear that a fuller assessment would take place behind closed doors in Maranello rather than in front of the assembled media.
“I spoke to Lewis for two seconds and not at all with Charles,” commented Vasseur when asked about the incident during his media session on Sunday night.
The Frenchman was equally reluctant to immediately declare one driver responsible, but he had no hesitation in acknowledging that the consequences were precisely the sort of outcome Ferrari could ill afford.
“We'll have time to discuss that. I prefer to discuss with them first and not with you. For sure, the outcome of Turn 1-2 is not good for the team, if it's the question,” he said.
That admission could prove significant. Ferrari has deliberately resisted imposing team orders on its drivers this season, even as Hamilton has become the Scuderia's closest challenger to Mercedes in the championship.
But Monza has potentially complicated that stance.
Ferrari's open-racing policy faces a fresh test
Vasseur has previously resisted the temptation to elevate Hamilton above Leclerc, arguing that doing so too early could ultimately backfire.
His reasoning was illustrated by last year's championship, when McLaren's decision-making around its drivers became an important part of the title narrative.
“Now, to see if we [need to] have a team order or whatever, I think that the good comparison that I made was that last year,” he said.
“Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season and if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion.”
Yet the Ferrari boss acknowledged that the luxury of letting both drivers race indefinitely may eventually disappear. The question is no longer whether team orders could become necessary, but when Ferrari believes the championship situation demands them.
"For sure, at one stage you have to take a decision, but I think it was too early to take a decision before Monza. Now I will have time to discuss with the guys,” he explained.
The problem is that Ferrari's refusal to intervene can carry a cost. At Monza, Hamilton lost valuable ground as a direct consequence of the battle, while Leclerc's aggressive defence risked something far worse than simply swapping positions.
“For a team, it's never good to lose points. This is clear. Now, basically at the beginning of the season, I think every single team principal in the world would love to let them race.
“To freeze positions when you are the team principal, don't imagine that it's an easy choice. You do it for the team, you do it for the results at the end, but it's never an easy call.”
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Vasseur still maintains that his preference is to give both drivers the freedom to fight.
But after Monza provided a vivid demonstration of what can happen when Ferrari's two cars are allowed to settle their differences at 200mph, the Scuderia may have to reconsider just how long that freedom can continue.
“By definition, I would love to let them race all the weekend. Now, by reason, you have to take a decision at one stage,” the Frenchman concluded.
“Each team is different. We will have to take a decision when we'll decide.”
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