Lewis Hamilton finally secured his first Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari in Mexico. It should have been the beginning of a perfect weekend. Instead, an opening-lap battle with teammate Charles Leclerc saw both drivers run wide, with Leclerc emerging ahead and receiving a penalty. Ferrari had the pace to win, but were too busy squabbling among themselves to stop Max Verstappen seizing the opportunity.
Ferrari is no ordinary F1 team. It doesn’t just give its drivers a job; it gives them a mythology. Its history and almost romantic relationship with the sport create expectations unlike any other on the grid. For eight years, Leclerc has been the golden boy and a potential champion only held back by the curse of Ferrari’s strategy. Then Lewis arrived, carrying with him seven world championships, a legacy that has changed F1, and a fame bigger than the sport itself. Hamilton became Ferrari’s second son.
But the solar system isn’t big enough for two suns, and Ferrari may have to choose. Leclerc is a long-term investment (although can we still call him an investment when he has failed to deliver?) while Hamilton brings championship-winning experience. Prioritising one risks alienating the other. From disagreements over team orders in Zandvoort to their near-collision at Monza and now Mexico, tensions are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Hamilton called for a written policy on how they should race each other after Monza, but Ferrari has yet to deliver. Leaving these issues unresolved risks turning an already complicated partnership into an obstacle to success.
I will, tentatively, back Leclerc, although I certainly don’t envy Ferrari the decision. Hamilton may currently lead on points, but Leclerc offers greater longevity. As much as it pains me to say it, Hamilton is unlikely to recapture the form that made him almost untouchable five years ago. That doesn’t mean treating Lewis as a secondary driver. Ferrari shouldn’t take the Red Bull approach of ignoring whichever unfortunate soul finds themselves alongside Max Verstappen. Equally though, they shouldn’t follow McLaren’s controversial ‘Papaya Rules’ (we’ve all seen how that turned out).
With just four races remaining and Ferrari almost guaranteed second in the Constructors’ Championship, there’s little need for a dramatic change this season. But looking ahead, Ferrari needs to decide what it wants from its driver pairing.
Ferrari, if you’re reading this, make yourself a plan!
Photo by Fabian Martinas on Unsplash under the Unsplash license.
