Agreement restricting Ferrari's authority over Hamilton.

      "Hamilton will make his own decisions"

      Ralf Schumacher suggests that Lewis Hamilton's contract may be hindering Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur's ability to manage the intense on-track competition between Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. The two Ferrari drivers have engaged in aggressive wheel-to-wheel racing during the early rounds of the 2026 season, notably in Suzuka, where Leclerc passed Hamilton on the outside of Turn 1. "We made contact in the chicane—I was worried I'd gotten a puncture," Leclerc recalled afterward. Former driver Timo Glock cautioned that the situation could escalate if not properly managed. "There must be clear boundaries when the team is at a disadvantage," he stated to Sky Deutschland. "If the two cars are hindering each other and losing battery power, and if the team ultimately loses positions because of it, then management must step in. Ferrari needs to take a strong position here, as the limits were being tested. The general understanding among racing teams is that a duel is acceptable, but contact is not." He warned with a grim prediction: "I feel we'll eventually see both drivers in the gravel after an accident." Glock also mentioned Hamilton's comeback in 2026. "While Charles Leclerc remains slightly more consistently fast, Lewis Hamilton is certainly back to where we all want him—confident and enjoying racing." Nevertheless, Schumacher believes the dynamics behind the scenes are more complex. "I think, even if I may receive some backlash for this, that while Lewis will certainly be competing at the front this year, his contract permits him to do just that," he commented. "I doubt Fred Vasseur could intervene even if he wanted to. That’s why Ferrari stands little chance. Hamilton will make his own choices. Naturally, this impacts the team—the mechanic, who works tirelessly day in and day out, sees these two drivers losing time and potentially even parts by colliding. That creates tension."