Lewis Hamilton Calls for Written Rules After Ferrari…
Lewis Hamilton has urged Ferrari to introduce clear, written rules for how its drivers should race each other after a tense clash with Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix.
The incident happened on the opening lap at Monza, Ferrari’s home circuit. Hamilton and Leclerc were fighting for position when Hamilton made a move into the first chicane. The two Ferrari drivers continued battling through the corner, with Hamilton eventually being forced wide and onto the gravel. He lost several positions as a result.
For Ferrari, the situation quickly became even more frustrating. Leclerc crashed at the end of the following lap and was forced to retire from the race, while Hamilton managed to recover and finish sixth.
After the race, Hamilton made it clear that he believed Ferrari needed to set clearer boundaries between its drivers. The seven-time world champion said his former team, Mercedes, had written rules that helped drivers understand what was acceptable when they were fighting each other.
Hamilton believes a similar system could prevent incidents like the one at Monza from happening again.
“I think it comes down to rules of engagement,” Hamilton said, referring to the guidelines he had experienced at Mercedes.
The disagreement with Leclerc was not simply about who was at fault. Leclerc felt he had been ahead at the crucial moment and believed Hamilton had pushed him wide. Hamilton, however, appeared to believe there needed to be a clearer understanding of how aggressively the two drivers could race without putting Ferrari’s result at risk.
The clash has created another talking point around Ferrari’s 2026 season. Both Hamilton and Leclerc have shown impressive speed, but the team has also endured difficult moments on and off the track.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the incident would need to be discussed internally. The team, however, has not indicated that it plans to immediately introduce strict team orders or give one driver priority over the other.
For Hamilton, the issue is less about stopping the two drivers from racing and more about making sure they know where the line is.
The veteran driver has spent much of his career in intense teammate battles, particularly during his Mercedes years. He knows that competition between teammates can be healthy, but it can also become expensive when both cars are damaged or points are thrown away.
That is why Hamilton wants Ferrari to establish a clear set of rules before another situation develops.
His sixth-place finish at Monza was also a disappointing outcome for a driver hoping to close the gap in the championship. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli won the race, extending his advantage, while Hamilton left Italy still chasing the leaders.
Ferrari will now have to put the Monza controversy behind it and focus on the races ahead. With Hamilton and Leclerc both capable of fighting for major results, managing their rivalry could become just as important as finding more performance from the car.
For Hamilton, the message is simple: let the drivers race, but make sure everyone knows the rules before they do.
