Former F1 driver Timo Glock urged Ferrari to draw a clear line and step in if Leclerc–Hamilton duels cost the team positions or battery energy, warning that continued wheel-to-wheel battles risk collisions and lost results. The call follows tense fights between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in recent races for Ferrari. Close action in Shanghai and Suzuka showed how fast the situation can tip from hard racing to lost time. Glock said Ferrari must protect points when its cars run together.
Recent examples underline the risk. In China, Leclerc and Hamilton ran side by side more than once. The fight was tight, and Hamilton finished on the podium. In Japan, the pair came close again. The exchange was sharp, and Leclerc took third while Hamilton placed sixth. Those outcomes came with heavy battery use to defend and attack. Both races showed how an internal fight can shape the end result, not only for one driver but for the team.
Glock’s view is clear. He said hard duels are fine, but contact must not be the goal. If the two drivers start to hurt the team by losing positions or draining battery power, management should step in. He wants Ferrari to set clear rules for how the pair race each other and to act early when the balance tips the wrong way. The aim is to avoid contact and time loss and to lock in points when both cars are in the mix.
The performance picture raises the stakes. Glock sees Leclerc as marginally the more consistently quick driver over a lap and across a stint. He also believes Hamilton has returned to the level teams expect from him. That form gives Hamilton the confidence to attack and defend at the front. The mix often leaves the two Ferraris in the same window on track. When both find pace at the same time, they meet each other, not only rivals from other teams.
Ferrari has set out its stance. Team principal Frederic Vasseur said the priority is bringing both cars to the finish rather than one leading while the other falls back. He pointed to the drivers’ mutual respect and their focus on the team. He also said the operation is working well at the circuit. The message from the pit wall is that the group values a clean double finish and team-first choices when the race becomes tight.
The wider fight adds pressure. Ferrari is chasing Mercedes and needs steady points to keep progress alive. Internal clashes can undo that work in a single lap. Clear engagement rules would give Leclerc and Hamilton a framework when they reach each other in a race. Early calls from the pit wall could stop a two-car fight from draining battery stores or opening the door to rivals behind. In a field where margins are small, saved energy and preserved tires can decide a podium.
Glock is not asking Ferrari to stop its drivers racing. He is asking for control when the balance shifts from gain to loss. The recent battles in Shanghai and Suzuka showed that the line can be thin. Ferrari’s stated priority is to bring both cars home and protect team results. Glock’s push for firm rules matches that goal and aims to turn tight wheel-to-wheel moments into steady points for the season ahead.