Ferrari's 'preferred' driver between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc amid 'deep rift' claim

A new report from Italy has detailed the profound differences between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari

Though both drivers sought to quell talks of a rift between themselves following a meeting with Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur in Brazil, the harshness of the words from Hamilton prior suggests the rift between the two runs deep.

Now a report from Italy has confirmed one driver has the team's preference between the two and that both are "playing politics."

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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari rift put into focus

The incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the opening lap of the Mexico GP, losing them what ultimately looked like a 1-2 finish, appeared to unearth a huge amount of ill feeling from the British driver.

Hamilton appeared deeply unhappy at the continued lack of decisive boundaries laid down by the Ferrari team, particularly in relation to how Leclerc raced him.

The seven-time champion told the Scuderia they had “big problems” over team radio, and now a new report from Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi, on his Terruzzi Racconta podcast, has detailed how far apart the two are from an understanding.

“The moment Hamilton makes the statements he makes, dragging them out, getting to Brazil and harping on about it - he’s playing politics,” said Terruzzi.

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“Just like Leclerc is implicitly playing politics by staying silent.”

Terruzzi also highlighted Leclerc’s long-held position as Ferrari apparent favoured, a driver who can apparently do no wrong, despite his sometimes on-the-edge approach to racing.

“They are both in a work family with very different conditions. Leclerc is certainly more pampered and loved within Ferrari than Hamilton. Hamilton rubs a lot of people the wrong way by wanting to influence so many things in the team.

“From his perspective, he says, ‘I’m ahead in the standings, I’ve won seven world titles, why else did you hire me?’ While Leclerc’s argument is: ‘Why did you hire him? To be a driver or a technical director?’ We are talking about a deep rift within Ferrari that has not been addressed.”

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What Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc said about their Ferrari argument

Both Ferrari drivers attempted to calm the waters in Brazil following their ‘peace talks’ with team boss Frederic Vasseur, with Hamilton striking a very different note to before.

“Fred [Vasseur] hasn't cleared the air in the sense of like me and Charles,” he said.

“We [Lewis and Charles] sat and spoke, and we squashed it, and we're moving on.

“I think we still have a huge amount of respect for each other, and I'm glad we had a chat, and now we move on.

“We've been getting along just fine as normal. So sometimes in those scenarios, it just takes having a conversation, and there's been no demands from either side.

“It's just been giving our points and areas that we can do better and support each other.”

Leclerc, who has been much more careful with his public opinions on the rivalry with Hamilton, kept to the same diplomatic line he’s previously opted for.

“I think discussing whatever is left, or whatever frustration is left, was needed,” he said. “Now I feel it’s fully settled, and I don’t think we should be speaking about it too much going forward.”

It remains to be seen if Vasseur can keep the peace at Ferrari from here.

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