Ferrari warned against decision that will 'alienate' drivers

Ferrari has been warned that introducing team orders could alienate one of their drivers, a topic that resurfaced after Lewis Hamilton was pushed wide by Charles Leclerc at Monza. Hamilton later questioned the team's lack of rules of engagement.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's hopes of closing the gap to Mercedes have faded, but the team-order debate will only grow if they return to title contention. With two top drivers, choosing who to back risks fracturing team harmony.

The details:

• Jolyon Palmer, on the F1 Nation podcast, says Ferrari simply hasn't had the pace to implement team orders to any great extent.
• Hamilton sits third in the championship, 101 points behind Kimi Antonelli.
• Palmer estimates even five perfect weekends would leave Hamilton 62 points off — too big a gap against a driver who has won three of the last five races.
• The conversation around team orders only exists because Ferrari lack the pace to win on merit.

Between the lines:

Palmer's analysis suggests the performance deficit is the root cause. Without a race-winning car, any team-order decision would feel forced and could backfire.

What's next:

As Ferrari target a more competitive 2027, Fred Vasseur faces a delicate balancing act. Palmer warns that backing either driver could alienate the other. For now, closing the performance gap is the priority.