Moving On From Monza: Ferrari Drivers Clear the Air

Ferrari's demise at Monza? Done, gone, dusted, and swept away. 

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are moving on from the Monza saga to focus on the task at hand at Madrid. The Ferrari drivers said that they privately talked about their opening-lap clash at the Italian Grand Prix, with both describing the discussion as open, honest, and constructive.

Leclerc even admitted that he was the one to blame for forcing his teammate off the track on Turn 2 of the first lap. He said that he went "too far" in that turn. The Monegasque driver would then go on to say that the tussle didn't have a negative impact on his "good relationship" with Hamilton.

Meanwhile, Hamilton praised Leclerc for "not shying away" from discussing the Monza tussle with him face-to-face. The seven-time World Champion framed it as a positive sign for Leclerc's growth and maturity.

Right after the Italian GP, Hamilton was very particular about what he wanted: a formal "rules of engagement" from the team. He mentioned that at Mercedes, his former team, the team orders are managed more effectively. 

However, Hamilton admitted today that these things aren't fixed overnight. The way that the team communicates is already linked to their internal culture, which will take some time to change and implement. 

Of course, team principal Fred Vasseur is right in the middle of these discussions. But the Ferrari boss claims that the team already has "clear principles" in place, and that both drivers get "equal treatment and responsibility." 

Still, the important takeaway is that everyone in the Ferrari garage has settled their differences. Vasseur mentioned that he had "some good meetings" with both Hamilton and Leclerc, essentially reminding them of the "fundamental principles" in his team management practices.

Now that everyone has moved on, Ferrari can pivot to the most important goal this weekend: win the race and help Hamilton continue his championship chase. 

Hamilton is already 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, but we've seen a lot of surprises in the past. Ferrari needs a lucky break every now and then, but they might have to take matters into their own hands by prioritizing Hamilton. 

After all, Leclerc might already be out of contention for the championship by now. It might be best for the team to put their weight behind Hamilton, and then wait and see what happens after this weekend at Madrid.