Ferrari may need team orders 'at one stage' – Vasseur cites Piastri warning

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has admitted the team may be forced to favor Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc at some point before the end of the 2026 season – but he insists that moment hasn't arrived yet. Pointing to Oscar Piastri's late-season collapse in 2025, Vasseur argued that driver form can shift dramatically, making early team orders a risky move.

Why it matters:

With Hamilton 36 points clear of Leclerc in the drivers' standings but 76 behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari's title challenge is on the brink. The decision of whether to back one driver could determine if Ferrari can mount a late charge or watch its hopes fade. Vasseur's comments reveal a team aware of the stakes but cautious about acting too soon.

The details:

• At Monza, Hamilton and Leclerc ran side-by-side into Turn 1, with Hamilton losing ground and Leclerc retiring after a heavy spin at Parabolica. Hamilton recovered to sixth.
• Kimi Antonelli's victory from 19th on the grid gave Ferrari's home fans a winner for the first time since 1966 – but it was for Mercedes, not Ferrari.
• Vasseur cited McLaren's 2025 'papaya rules' policy as a cautionary tale: "Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season, and if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion."
• He added: "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, we have time to discuss with the guys."
• On team orders in general, Vasseur said every team principal would love to let drivers race, but sometimes it's not possible: "You do it for the team, you do it for the reasons at the end, but it's never an easy call."

What's next:

Ferrari will continue to allow its drivers to race for now, but a decision looms as the season progresses. Vasseur's 'at one stage' comment signals that team orders are inevitable if the championship picture becomes clearer. The next few races will be crucial in determining whether Ferrari can still challenge Mercedes – and which driver gets the priority.