The Italian Grand Prix was supposed to be Ferrari’s moment of redemption in front of its passionate home crowd. Instead, Monza became the stage for a growing internal crisis, with increasing pressure now surrounding team principal Fred Vasseur.

The biggest talking point was not only Ferrari’s disappointing result, but also the public criticism from new Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who openly suggested that the team’s problems come from the highest level of management.

Hamilton did not simply criticize strategy or race decisions. When asked about the points Ferrari had lost due to poor management, the seven-time world champion directly mentioned Vasseur’s name.

“At the end of the day, everything comes from the top. Decisions flow down like a waterfall, and it starts with Fred.”

The comment immediately attracted attention because it was made in front of the Italian media at Monza, while Ferrari President and senior executives were present at the circuit.

For many observers, Hamilton’s words were more than a simple complaint. They were a public message to Ferrari’s leadership that deeper structural problems need to be addressed.

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Ferrari’s Home Race Ends in Disappointment

Ferrari arrived at Monza with huge expectations. A second major upgrade package, the support of thousands of passionate tifosi, and the high-profile pairing of Hamilton and Charles Leclerc created hopes of a strong performance.

Instead, almost everything went wrong.

Ferrari collected only eight points throughout the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Persistent problems with the engine, energy management, and race execution once again exposed the team’s weaknesses.

The disappointment became even bigger after Hamilton and Leclerc clashed during the opening lap.

Hamilton made an aggressive start and moved to the inside line at the first chicane, briefly gaining the advantage. However, entering the second corner, Leclerc maintained his racing line, leaving Hamilton with no room.

The Ferrari driver was forced onto the gravel, dropping from fourth place to eighth within a matter of seconds.

Both drivers had completely different views of the incident.

Leclerc admitted that both drivers were pushing the limits.

“Lewis, at Turn 1 and then Turn 2, I tried to make my line as short as possible. That was it.”

However, Hamilton strongly disagreed.

“I was ahead into Turn 2 in every way. I was ahead. There was no ‘we’ in that corner.”

Hamilton also insisted that he has always raced fairly and that fans should not be concerned about his approach.

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Hamilton Questions Ferrari’s Lack of Team Rules

The biggest issue for Hamilton was not only the incident with Leclerc, but Ferrari’s lack of clear rules regarding battles between teammates.

He compared Ferrari’s situation with his years at Mercedes when he fought against Nico Rosberg.

“When I was at Mercedes with Rosberg, we had written rules of engagement. It was never a big problem to have them. Here, there are no rules, and I think that is something we need to improve.”

According to Hamilton, Ferrari needs a clearer structure to prevent internal battles from costing valuable championship points.

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“Too Late, Weeks Too Late” — Hamilton Criticizes Ferrari’s Championship Strategy

The strongest criticism came when Hamilton was asked whether Ferrari should now fully support him in the championship fight.

His answer was brutally direct.

“Too late. Weeks too late.”

Hamilton believes Ferrari waited too long before deciding which driver should receive priority.

He suggested that the team’s hesitation had already damaged his championship chances.

The seven-time world champion compared the situation with other teams that made difficult decisions earlier in the season when one driver became the stronger title contender.

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Vasseur’s Phone Call After Zandvoort Failed to Solve the Problem

The tension actually started several weeks earlier at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.

After a controversial radio exchange where Hamilton asked Ferrari to let him pass Leclerc because he was on fresher tyres, Vasseur arranged a private discussion between both drivers.

Ferrari later claimed that the situation had been resolved.

However, Monza showed that the problem was far from over.

Hamilton continued to question Ferrari’s communication process and the absence of clear internal guidelines.

For him, the issue was not one isolated incident but a pattern of decision-making throughout the season.

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Juan Pablo Montoya Launches Strong Criticism

Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya also criticized Ferrari’s handling of the situation.

Montoya believes Ferrari’s leadership must intervene immediately instead of allowing tensions between its drivers to grow.

He argued that the problem is not only between Hamilton and Leclerc but also how Ferrari manages two elite drivers fighting for results.

“He is your teammate. You have to respect your teammate and respect your team,” Montoya said.

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Fred Vasseur’s Position Comes Under Pressure

Following the Monza weekend, speculation about Fred Vasseur’s future has returned.

Several names have already been mentioned as possible replacements if Ferrari decides to make a major leadership change.

The two names most frequently linked with the role are:

• Antonello Coletta, a Ferrari insider with extensive experience leading the brand’s endurance racing programs.
• Christian Horner, the former Red Bull Racing team principal with a proven record of building a championship-winning organization.

Italian media reports suggest that Vasseur’s position is receiving serious scrutiny from Ferrari’s top management, especially after several key decisions throughout the season have been questioned.

Those include Ferrari’s development priorities, technical direction, and the absence of clear team orders between its drivers.

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Vasseur May Stay, But His Authority Has Been Damaged

Despite the growing pressure, Ferrari is unlikely to immediately replace Vasseur.

His contract was recently extended, and removing a team principal just days before the Madrid Grand Prix would be an extreme decision.

However, the biggest challenge facing Vasseur is not simply his job security.

It is his authority.

Hamilton has done something rarely seen at Ferrari: a driver publicly criticized the team structure and directly named the person responsible.

If Ferrari introduces new internal racing rules, many will see it as a result of Hamilton’s pressure.

If no changes are made and the two red cars lose more points because of internal conflicts, the direction of the criticism is already clear.

Monza may not mark the end of Fred Vasseur’s Ferrari era.

But it could become the moment when his leadership and credibility face their biggest test yet.

What do you think? Should Ferrari fully support Lewis Hamilton as their championship leader, or does Fred Vasseur deserve more time to rebuild the team? Share your opinion in the comments.