Vasseur: Ferrari drivers must work for the team, not themselves

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said his drivers should put the team's collective effort ahead of their own objectives after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc's battle in the Mexican Grand Prix cost Ferrari a chance of victory.

Asked whether he could tell the drivers not to put individual aims ahead of the team, Vasseur said respect meant they were “not working for themselves” but “working for a group.” He pointed to Ferrari's sponsors and 2,000 employees, saying staff had worked night and day to push through upgrades.

Hamilton started from pole and Leclerc third. The Ferraris were first and second at Turn 4 when Leclerc attacked around the outside; both ran deep and left the track. Hamilton was overtaken by Max Verstappen after getting back on track, while Leclerc received a five-second penalty for retaining an advantage after cutting Turn 5 and finished fourth.

Leclerc had partly blamed the track layout for the incident. Vasseur said it did not help, but could not be an excuse. Asked whether both drivers were responsible, he said he had not yet discussed it with them.