Ferrari’s internal battle is already on a knife-edge, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc pushing each other hard. Former F1 driver Timo Glock believes that things will boil over sooner rather than later.
“The line needs to be clearly drawn as soon as the team is at a disadvantage… From my perspective, sooner or later, we’ll see those two end up in the gravel after a collision.”
This warning comes despite the fact that, so far, the rivalry has been intense but clean. However, with both drivers fighting for supremacy and Ferrari still chasing Mercedes, the risk of contact grows with every race.
Ferrari vs Mercedes: A growing gap
After three races, the early pecking order in Formula 1 is becoming increasingly clear. Mercedes has established itself as the dominant force, with young star Kimi Antonelli and the ever-consistent George Russell delivering results at the front of the grid.
Meanwhile, Scuderia Ferrari has emerged as the closest challenger, but not quite close enough. The Italian team has demonstrated impressive speed, yet Hamilton and Leclerc have been more preoccupied with competing against each other than with securing victories.
This has created a high-pressure scenario. Without a clear hierarchy, both drivers are racing flat out, knowing that every point matters in closing the gap to Mercedes.
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Hamilton vs Leclerc: Competitive tension is rising
Their on-track battles have already provided some of the most thrilling moments of the season, particularly in China and Japan. Wheel-to-wheel racing, aggressive positioning and tactical energy deployment have characterised their encounters.
However, according to Glock, this is precisely where the danger lies.
Ferrari’s drivers are not just rivals on the track, they are also teammates, sharing the same resources, strategies and limitations. If they compromise each other, the consequences extend beyond personal results to impact the entire team’s championship hopes.
Glock pointed to the fine margins involved, especially with modern hybrid systems. Losing energy through prolonged battles or compromising race pace can quickly turn a strong weekend into a missed opportunity.
Further, he believes that the situation is already approaching a critical point.
“A duel is acceptable, but contact is not…”
Glock’s warning centres on a fundamental principle within Formula 1 teams: drivers are allowed to race, but only up to a point.
“The rule is simple,” he explained. “A duel is acceptable, but contact is absolutely not.”
So far, Hamilton’s resurgence has added another dimension to the competition. After a mixed start to his Ferrari career, the seven-time world champion is rediscovering his rhythm and confidence. While he may not have matched his performance in China in Japan, it is clear that he is back at a competitive level.
Meanwhile, Leclerc continues to deliver his trademark consistency and raw speed. The Monegasque driver has often had the edge, but not by enough to comfortably control the intra-team battle.
This balance of two drivers operating at near-equal performance levels is precisely what makes the situation so volatile.
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Ferrari management are walking a tightrope
From the pit wall, the situation looks very different. Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has already admitted that the team can feel the tension during these on-track duels.
After the Chinese Grand Prix, Leclerc openly admitted that he had enjoyed the battle.
“I loved it. I’m sure Fred didn’t, and that the other team members were probably stressed during the race.”
Vasseur’s response was more cautious. While he trusts both drivers’ professionalism, he acknowledged the inherent risk.
Ferrari faces a difficult dilemma: impose team orders too early and risk damaging driver morale, or allow them to race freely and risk the kind of collision Glock is predicting.
An accident feels inevitable
For now, the Hamilton-Leclerc rivalry remains just on the right side of control. But as the season progresses and the stakes rise, that balance may not be maintained.
History has shown that intra-team battles can escalate quickly, especially when both drivers believe they have what it takes to lead the team.
Glock’s prediction may sound dramatic, but it reflects a familiar pattern in Formula 1. Two elite, evenly matched drivers fighting for position in a car that isn’t quite dominant is a recipe that has led to flashpoints many times before.
As Glock bluntly put it, sooner or later, something has to give.
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NEXT ARTICLE – Max Verstappen Considering Paid 2027 Sabbatical Amid F1 Frustrations
One thing was crystal clear at the recent 2026 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, and that is Max Verstappen is a very unhappy man. In the FIA press conference he banished a journalist from The Guardian, refusing to answer questions until the offending pork pie hat had left the room.
Verstappen claims Giles Richards had ‘laughed in his face’ following the season finale in Abu Dhabi last season. Having fallen short by just 14 points of becoming only the second F1 driver to claim five consecutive titles, Richards reminded Max of his red mist in Spain where he appeared to ram the Mercedes of George Russell.
The resulting 10 second penalty issued by the race stewards probably cost Verstappen in the region of 9 points that day, so it was not a deciding incident for his season anyway. Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies is reported to have had words with his star driver following corporate pressure from Austria over the image he was portraying of the Red Bull brand.
Max reprimanded for dismissing journalists
Thats in itself is a bizarre tale, given that Red Bull energy drinks brand, the extreme sports they have supported and the rebellious attitude of the Red Bull F1 team have always been associated with kicking over the traces. How times have changed since the death of Red Bull founder Didi Mateschitz. But we digress.
As if to make matters worse, Vertsappen had his worst racing weekend of the season. He was out qualified for the second time by new team mate Isack Hadjar and dumped out of the top ten shootout by rookie Arvid Lindblad in the Red Bull sister car. The RB22 car was “undriveable” repeated Max throughout the…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
