Vasseur reveals Hamilton and Leclerc left his room 'joking together' after Brazil clear-the-air talks

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has moved to quash suggestions of a fractured relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, revealing the two drivers held a private meeting in Brazil that ended with both men laughing. The disclosure came after the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos passed without the radio disputes or position-swap arguments that had threatened to overshadow the team’s season.

The pair had been under the microscope since an opening-lap collision in Mexico brought their internal dynamic into sharp focus. Vasseur confirmed that a preemptive sit-down on the Thursday before race weekend served as the reset the team needed.

“Honestly, we had a good discussion on Friday. We cleared the situation,” Vasseur told reporters after the race. “I think we did a good reset on the mindset, and they left my room joking together.”

The Ferrari boss acknowledged the fragility of the peace while expressing cautious optimism heading into the final stretch of the season. “It’s good, and I hope the things will last and stay like this, but we had a good meeting on Thursday,” he added.

Vasseur was also in characteristically dry form when pressed on a high-pressure strategy moment during the rain-soaked race. Asked on which lap a specific decision had been made and whether the cars were still on intermediate tyres at the time, he sidestepped the question entirely.

“No, no, no, guys. This is 6:30, it’s when I did my sport,” Vasseur deadpanned, referencing his morning workout. “And then I made a mega lap. No confusion. The conclusion is that I’m much more stressed when I’m doing sport.”

Whether the improved atmosphere between Hamilton and Leclerc holds through the remainder of the campaign remains to be seen, but Sunday’s race in Brazil offered the first tangible evidence that Ferrari’s internal tensions have, at least for now, been put to rest.