Leclerc and His Role at Monza: “Hamilton Has Priority”

The internal harmony at Ferrari will be put to the test this weekend at Monza. Charles Leclerc has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will have priority in choosing position during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, a decision based on the internal rules established by the Scuderia: "We have always had the same philosophy over these years, one weekend Lewis has priority to choose where he wants to start and another it's my turn. This weekend Lewis Hamilton will have the priority so I suppose he will go for the tow" declared the Monegasque.

The announcement comes after a small friction between both drivers during the Dutch Grand Prix. On that occasion Hamilton asked over the radio for Leclerc to let him pass to fight for the podium, an order that the Monegasque fulfilled but with a delay of a lap and a half that, according to the Briton, cost him valuable time. Although Hamilton initially expressed his frustration, he later rectified his words and assured that he fully trusts his teammate and the team.

Leclerc wanted to end any speculation about a possible internal conflict: "I don't think we are going to compromise one's qualifying for the other's, but obviously if we can help each other by trying to start the lap at the optimal distance between us, we will" he explained. The Monegasque stressed that the collaboration between both drivers is fluid and that there are no hard feelings: "At Silverstone and Spa we did a really good job putting all those parameters in the optimal place, that's what we will try to do here" he added.

The points difference between Hamilton and Leclerc is 30 in favor of the Briton, which partly justifies the priority given to the seven time world champion, however the Monegasque did not show any sign of frustration at the decision, on the contrary, his speech was one of total acceptance and collaboration. The Scuderia needs to score points and close the gap to Mercedes, which leads the constructors' championship with a significant advantage.

The car's setup for Monza has also been the subject of analysis. Leclerc explained that the approach for this Grand Prix has changed compared to previous years: "Before we arrived at Monza and took practically all the wing we could off the car, this year we arrive with a much more similar setup to the one we use during the rest of the season" he revealed. This strategic change seeks to find a balance between top speed and the downforce needed for the corners.

The Italian GP is always a special weekend for Ferrari, the pressure of the Tifosi, the roar of the crowd and the history of the circuit make Monza a unique stage, for Leclerc and Hamilton, collaboration will be key. Both drivers know that a bad result at home can have consequences not only sporting, but also media related, that's why Hamilton's priority in qualifying is not seen as a gesture of favoritism, but as a calculated strategy to maximize the team's chances.

Beyond the choice of position, Leclerc trusts that both can shine: "If we can help each other, we will" he insisted.

The relationship between Charles and Lewis seems solid, at least for now. In a team like Ferrari, where pressure is constant, the ability to work as a team is as important as speed on track.

Monza will be the definitive test of whether internal harmony can translate into results.