Hinchcliffe: Vasseur under 'tremendous' pressure to define Ferrari driver rules

Fred Vasseur is under a "tremendous amount" of pressure to set clear rules of engagement between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, says F1 TV pundit James Hinchcliffe. The call follows a tense Dutch Grand Prix and a first-lap clash between the Ferrari teammates at Monza, leaving questions over the team's internal hierarchy.

Why it matters:

Ferrari is now 14 rounds into its second season with this driver pairing, yet the boundaries remain unclear. Rivals McLaren and Mercedes have well-defined frameworks for teammate battles, and Ferrari's ambiguity could cost valuable points and fuel instability in the title fight.

The details:

• Hinchcliffe, on F1 TV's Weekend Warm-Up, said the situation requires urgent attention: "We're round 14 of their second year working together and we're still having these sorts of questions."
• He noted that McLaren and Mercedes have "very clear rules" for their drivers, implying Ferrari lacks a comparable structure.
• Fred Vasseur admitted to Motorsport.com that discussions with both drivers are needed after Monza, but denied any internal crisis.
• The team principal defended Ferrari's approach: "You can't expect contracts to cover every possible scenario you might encounter on track."

What's next:

Ferrari now heads to the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit on 13 September, where the focus will be on how Hamilton and Leclerc share the track. Whether Vasseur can provide a clearer framework before then could shape Ferrari's season.