Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured a famous home victory at the Italian Grand Prix as Ferrari refused to freeze their driver hierarchy following a disastrous opening lap.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc collided at the first chicane before the Monegasque driver suffered a 50G impact at the Parabolica. The heavy second-lap crash wrecked his SF-26 and potentially cost the team valuable power unit components. Hamilton recovered to finish sixth but immediately demanded “written rules of engagement” as he tries to catch Antonelli in the championship standings.
Vasseur Defends Early Season Stance
Hamilton currently sits 76 points adrift of the championship leader with ten scheduled rounds remaining. However, the Ferrari team principal remains hesitant to impose early restrictions. He referenced McLaren’s 2025 campaign to explain his reluctance.
“A good comparison that I made was that last year (Oscar) Piastri was leading the championship at this stage of the season and if McLaren put everything on Piastri (instead of team-mate Lando Norris), Max Verstappen would have been champion.”
Ferrari Regroup For Madrid Race
While internal disputes cast a shadow over Maranello, their straight-line speed deficit severely compromised the weekend. Although an unexpected endurance racing victory recently demonstrated their wider strategic flexibility, the Formula 1 operation struggled to defend on the straights at Monza.
“At one stage you have to take a decision, but it was too early to take a decision before Monza. Every single team principal in the world would love to let them race. To freeze positions is not an easy call. Now I will have time to discuss it with the drivers.”
Ferrari expects the upcoming Madrid Grand Prix layout to better suit their current package as the Italian marque prepares for the inaugural Spanish street race.
