Rosberg says Ferrari backing Hamilton over Leclerc in 2026 title race is not feasible

Nico Rosberg has dismissed the idea of Ferrari imposing team orders in Lewis Hamilton’s favour, insisting it is “not feasible” for the Scuderia to sideline Charles Leclerc in the 2026 title race at this point in the season. The 2016 world champion made his comments ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Hamilton qualified fourth.

The remarks follow a turbulent Dutch Grand Prix, during which Ferrari appeared reluctant to enforce team orders that would have allowed Hamilton to pass Leclerc, despite the Monegasque driver running a different strategy. The episode reignited debate over how the team manages its two headline signings.

“They can’t do that,” said Rosberg, who partnered Hamilton at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016. “They have two No. 1 drivers, both on a similar level. You cannot, now in the middle of the season, put everything just working towards Lewis. It’s way too early, and that doesn’t make sense.”

Rosberg acknowledged the cost to Hamilton’s championship ambitions, noting that the intra-team friction had been a recurring theme. “In the last five races the Ferrari drivers were all over each other almost every race. Of course, it costs them performance, and Lewis championship points eventually, but the team cannot do that at this stage against Leclerc. It’s not feasible.”

Heading into Monza, Hamilton trailed championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 59 points in the drivers’ standings, while Leclerc sat 87 points back — a gap that further complicates any case for Ferrari to anoint a single lead driver.

Rosberg also assessed the broader title picture at Monza, identifying the race as a significant opportunity for Hamilton, George Russell, and Lando Norris to recover ground. However, he tempered expectations for both Norris and Hamilton. “Lando is kind of out of it today, he has not been fast enough this weekend. Lewis also, we were expecting a bit more from him in qualifying but, nevertheless, he’s still fourth, has a good race car so he can be on the podium. Not sure he can fight for the win.”