Vasseur dismisses claims Ferrari split Hamilton and Leclerc Spanish GP strategy to avoid clash

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has firmly dismissed suggestions that the Italian squad intentionally split the strategies of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton during the Spanish Grand Prix to prevent them from fighting on circuit.

The dynamic between Leclerc and Hamilton has come under heavy scrutiny following tense moments in recent rounds. Radio friction emerged at Zandvoort when Hamilton requested team orders to pass Leclerc, followed by an opening-lap collision in Italy that compromised Hamilton’s race and sent him sliding down the order. Despite recurring rumors, Vasseur has continuously defended the Scuderia and denied any internal friction, echoing past stances where Lewis Hamilton vehemently denies demanding Ferrari crew shake-up.

Strategy Split at the Madring

The strategic intrigue resumed in Madrid after Hamilton qualified fourth and Leclerc took fifth on the grid. When the lights went out, the pair ran contrasting plans: Hamilton launched on soft tyres, while Leclerc took the start on the hard compound.

Addressing theories that the move was designed to keep the teammates apart, Vasseur pointed out that multiple rival outfits adopted identical approaches.

“Have a look. [Lando] Norris, [Oscar] Piastri did the same. [George] Russell, [Kimi] Antonelli did the same. [Max] Verstappen, [Liam] Lawson did the same,” Vasseur told reporters on Sunday. “I don't think they [McLaren] were scared to have a crash between Norris and Piastri.”

Technical Woes and Safety Car Hopes

Hamilton’s strategic advantage on the soft compound unraveled almost immediately. An early braking issue prevented the Briton from exploiting the softer rubber, forcing his retirement after only a handful of laps.

Leclerc continued on the hard tyre, running long around the Madring circuit in hopes of an intervention that never arrived.

“We could have done many different things, but I think the best thing for us today was what we did,” Leclerc explained. “If I had to do the race again I would do exactly the same thing. Because starting on the soft at the beginning wouldn't have given me the opportunity to do anything special.”

Leclerc stressed that mirroring the cars ahead would have yielded little benefit due to limited overtaking opportunities. “I would have ended up in the same strategy as the guys in front of me and wouldn't have been very helpful, considering there were no overtakes. So, the hard soft was the right strategy and waiting for the safety car at the end was also the right thing to do. But, unfortunately, it never came.”