Fred Vasseur sparks heated debate among Ferrari fans over Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remark

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur's comments on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have got fans talking after the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Leclerc and Hamilton finished in fourth and fifth after what was a difficult 70-lap race at the Hungaroring.

Both Ferraris started on the soft tyres in an attempt to make up early ground, but Leclerc dropped from second to fifth place behind his team-mate.

Hamilton was quicker than third-placed Max Verstappen in the opening laps but couldn't find a way past, and ultimately was the first driver to pit to spark a chain reaction in front of him.

He managed to undercut Verstappen, but the Dutchman re-overtook him as the pair got past the yet-to-stop Liam Lawson on the pit straight.

After his second pit stop - again made earlier than his rivals - Hamilton was on leaders pace and was promoted to second place after Oscar Piastri retired due to a gearbox failure.

Ferrari then elected to pit Hamilton for fresh soft tyres after the virtual safety car was deployed on lap 57, which they hoped would drop him one place behind Verstappen into third.

He did come out in third and ahead of Kimi Antonelli, but data showed Antonelli was narrowly ahead when the pair reached the white line on pit exit and Hamilton had to let him back through.

His misery was compounded by a five-second time penalty for pit lane speeding - by just 0.1km/h - and Hamilton dropped below team-mate Leclerc in the final classification.

READ MORE: FIA reveal exact reason why Lewis Hamilton received penalty at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Ferrari fans discuss Vasseur's Hamilton penalty comment

When asked about Hamilton's penalty, Vasseur told Brazilian journalist Julianne Cerasoli that Ferrari understood it would have been 'unfair' to ask Leclerc to slow down to allow Hamilton to keep fourth place. Leclerc was exactly seven tenths ahead in the final classification.

That has sparked debate over whether Ferrari made the correct decision, given that Hamilton is currently ahead of Leclerc by 31 points in the Drivers' Championship standings at close to the halfway point.

He is currently the closest challenger to championship leader Antonelli, who is now 50 points clear after Hungary.

There are 12 of the 23 planned races still to be held, but there remains uncertainty over whether Qatar and Abu Dhabi will go ahead.

"That's why they haven't won a damn thing for 20 years," one fan wrote.

Another said: "One is the championship runner-up, the other is fourth place."

While a third stated: "Half the championship is already over, Hamilton well ahead of Leclerc, it was about time to prioritise the driver who's in front. These two points could make a difference at the end."

But others had a different view on the situation, with one writing: "Leclerc isn't to blame that Hamilton didn't know the right moment to turn off the pit limiter."

Another asked: "I'm sorry when did Charles become the second driver?"

And a third wrote: "Leclerc would've been ahead in the championship without his brakes failing in Monaco and his power steering failing in Spain."

Current F1 Drivers' Championship standings

After Hungarian Grand Prix (Round 11 of 23)

1) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 219 points

2) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 169 points

3) George Russell (Mercedes) - 160 points

4) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 138 points

5) Lando Norris (McLaren) - 128 points

6) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 109 points