After Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton has moved to douse the flames surrounding his relationship with his Ferrari teammate, insisting that the pair retain a strong rapport despite the recent scrutiny produced by recent events, including their flash-point last weekend at Monza.
The two drivers started their home race from the second row, but their hopes of a strong result were almost immediately thrown into disarray when they went wheel-to-wheel through the opening chicane.
Hamilton was forced onto the gravel at Turn 2, losing valuable positions, while Leclerc’s own race ended shortly afterwards in a heavy crash.
Hamilton subsequently made clear that Ferrari needed to reassess how its drivers are allowed to race each other, warning against putting either driver “in jeopardy”. Team principal Fred Vasseur also indicated that clearer rules of engagement could be discussed.
Yet whatever friction existed at Monza appears to have remained there.
Hamilton insists ‘racing relationship’ remains strong
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Hamilton stressed that his relationship with Leclerc had not been damaged by their latest on-track confrontation.
“I think we've got a good racing relationship. I think the fact [is] that we are grown ups and are able to communicate with each other, which we have,” Hamilton explained.
“I'm really happy that he's really healthy and he's back here this weekend because we need him in the fight to challenge Mercedes together.
“There is all this discussion about communication and execution and stuff, but the communication between John [Elkann, Executive Chairman] and Benedetto [Vigna, Chief Executive Officer] and Fred, and his drivers, are really great.
“We all sit down and talk afterwards, squash it and move on so nothing lingers. We're just looking forward to how we can work better together.”
That is perhaps the most important distinction for Ferrari. The Hamilton-Leclerc partnership may be competitive, occasionally combustible and inevitably scrutinised, but neither driver appears interested in allowing one incident to become a lasting feud.
Hamilton’s recovery to sixth at Monza at least salvaged some points from a weekend that could have been far worse. Even so, the result left him 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, roughly the equivalent of three race victories.
With 10 rounds still remaining, however, Hamilton has not abandoned his bid for a record eighth world title.
‘Trust in everything Ferrari is doing’
The seven-time champion remains convinced that Ferrari possesses the ingredients required to mount a serious challenge, even if Mercedes currently holds the performance advantage.
“I'm still a believer that Ferrari has absolutely everything we need to win,” he concluded. “It takes everything coming together, naturally, to be able to achieve what we're trying to achieve.
“It's also difficult when you're fighting against the team just ahead on performance. I think we just have to continue. We've built a really good foundation with this first part of the year and we just have to continue to build on it.
“The team has worked incredibly hard to bring upgrades weekend in and weekend out. We've just obviously taken a step with the engine, which is a real positive. I think it's really important to just acknowledge that.
“I trust in everything that we're doing, the steps we're taking. Trusting Fred, and I really believe that we will get to where we're going. Whether it's next week, several weeks’ time or next year, we'll just keep pushing.”
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For Hamilton, then, the message ahead of Madrid is remarkably uncomplicated: Monza happened, the issue was discussed, and the relationship survives.
Now Ferrari needs its two drivers looking forward rather than sideways — because if the Scuderia is to close the gap to Mercedes, Hamilton and Leclerc will need to be fighting together far more often than they fight each other.
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