Ferrari have been cautioned about how they manage the pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, with Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali highlighting the importance of balance and clarity within the team. Domenicali’s perspective carries weight given his past role as Ferrari team principal and his current responsibility for the sport’s overall success.
The Italian believes Ferrari must create an environment where both drivers feel fully supported, especially after a difficult 2025 season in which neither Hamilton nor Leclerc managed to secure a race win across the entire 24-race calendar. Such a drought only increases pressure on the team’s leadership and technical direction.
Domenicali has stressed that having two elite drivers can be either a strength or a weakness, depending on how the situation is handled. Without clear priorities and strong internal management, competition between teammates risks undermining results rather than improving them.
He also pointed out that Ferrari’s global image and the appeal of Formula 1 benefit when the Scuderia are competitive. A harmonious and successful driver lineup is seen as essential not just for Ferrari’s ambitions, but for the championship as a whole.
As Ferrari look ahead, the message from the F1 chief is clear: maximizing the Hamilton-Leclerc partnership will require smart leadership, transparent decision-making, and a united push to return the team to race-winning form.
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