Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has delivered a controversial verdict on Ferrari’s ongoing driver tensions, insisting that the team must make Lewis Hamilton its undisputed number one driver to put an end to the growing disagreements with Charles Leclerc.
The 1996 world champion believes Ferrari needs to stop treating the situation as an unresolved internal debate and make a decisive choice about its leadership on track. His comments arrive after another explosive confrontation between Hamilton and Leclerc at the Mexican Grand Prix, where their opening-lap battle contributed to Ferrari losing a potentially dominant result.
With Hamilton publicly expressing his frustration and Leclerc defending his competitive approach, Hill believes the solution is straightforward: give the seven-time world champion full backing and allow him to lead the team.
DAMON HILL WANTS FERRARI TO MAKE HAMILTON NUMBER ONE
Hill shared his position on social media after witnessing the latest controversy between Ferrari’s two drivers in Mexico.
The former Williams driver believes Ferrari’s refusal to establish a clear hierarchy is contributing to unnecessary tension between Hamilton and Leclerc.
His proposed solution is to make Hamilton the team’s number one driver and communicate that decision clearly to everyone involved.
“Here is where I stand on the Lewis v Charles debate, and I made this point in my commentary on @5liveSport on Sunday in Mexico; make Lewis #1 Ferrari driver. Sort it out. Make it clear. Ends all debate. Lewis will deliver for Ferrari. If they back him 100%.”
Hill’s position is particularly interesting because Ferrari has consistently presented Hamilton and Leclerc as equal drivers since the Briton’s arrival.
However, the latest controversy suggests that maintaining equal status becomes increasingly complicated when both drivers are fighting for the same positions and opportunities.
Hill clearly believes Ferrari needs to prioritise one driver rather than allowing the competition to continue creating distractions.
MEXICO GRAND PRIX INCIDENT REIGNITES FERRARI’S INTERNAL CONFLICT
The latest disagreement developed during the opening lap of the Mexican Grand Prix, when Hamilton and Leclerc became involved in an aggressive battle for position.
Both drivers ran wide at Turn Four, with Leclerc retaining the position before receiving a five-second penalty from the stewards.
Hamilton subsequently lost ground to Max Verstappen, who eventually secured victory.
The incident was particularly damaging for Ferrari because the team had an opportunity to achieve a major result with both drivers.
Instead, the controversy created another public discussion about Ferrari’s racing guidelines and whether its drivers have sufficient instructions when competing against each other.
Hamilton was openly frustrated after the race, while Leclerc also faced criticism over his approach.
The disagreement has since required intervention from team principal Fred Vasseur, who has spoken with both drivers about their responsibilities and the importance of respecting the organisation.
HAMILTON’S RESULTS GIVE HILL A REASON TO BACK HIM
Hill’s recommendation is also supported by Hamilton’s improved performances during the 2026 campaign.
After experiencing a difficult first season with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has shown encouraging progress, securing his first victory for the Scuderia and collecting six podium finishes.
He currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 259 points, just two behind Verstappen.
Those results represent a significant improvement and demonstrate that Hamilton remains capable of competing at the front of the grid.
For Hill, giving Hamilton complete support could help Ferrari maximise the experience and championship-winning mentality he brings to the organisation.
However, appointing Hamilton as number one would also carry considerable consequences.
It could change the relationship between the two drivers, influence Ferrari’s long-term planning and potentially create dissatisfaction if Leclerc believes his opportunities are being restricted.
CHARLES LECLERC’S NUMBERS MAKE FERRARI’S DECISION MORE COMPLICATED
Although Hill wants Ferrari to prioritise Hamilton, Leclerc’s performances make such a decision far from straightforward.
The Monegasque driver has also won a race this season and collected five podium finishes.
He currently occupies fifth position in the championship with 245 points, just 14 behind Hamilton.
That relatively small difference demonstrates how closely matched the Ferrari teammates have been throughout the campaign.
Leclerc has also established himself as one of the team’s most important long-term assets, having recently signed a new contract.
Ferrari therefore faces a difficult strategic question.
Would promoting Hamilton to number one genuinely improve the team’s championship prospects, or would it create another source of tension with a driver who has already demonstrated his ability to deliver victories?
Leclerc’s position within Ferrari makes it unlikely that the team would casually abandon its equal-driver philosophy simply because of one controversial weekend.
FRED VASSEUR FACES A DIFFICULT DECISION AFTER HILL’S VERDICT
Team principal Fred Vasseur now finds himself at the centre of an increasingly important management challenge.
Ferrari has previously insisted that Hamilton and Leclerc receive equal treatment, and Vasseur has reiterated that the team’s guidelines must be respected.
However, the Mexican Grand Prix demonstrated that having two number-one drivers can create complications when both are competing for the same position.
Vasseur must decide whether to maintain the current arrangement or introduce clearer rules governing how Hamilton and Leclerc approach their battles.
Hill’s recommendation offers one possible solution, but it is not necessarily the only way to restore stability.
Ferrari could instead establish stricter racing instructions, including expectations about when drivers can attack one another and how they should respond when an incident threatens the team’s overall result.
Such an approach would preserve the competitive freedom of both drivers without automatically creating a permanent hierarchy.
The challenge will be ensuring that both Hamilton and Leclerc accept the rules and understand that Ferrari’s interests must come before individual rivalries.
WOULD MAKING HAMILTON NUMBER ONE DAMAGE LECLERC’S FUTURE AT FERRARI?
One of the biggest questions surrounding Hill’s proposal is how Leclerc would respond if Ferrari officially placed Hamilton above him.
Leclerc has spent years establishing himself as Ferrari’s leading driver and has consistently carried the team’s championship ambitions.
Although Hamilton’s experience and achievements are undeniable, the Monegasque has also demonstrated that he can compete at the highest level.
Making Hamilton number one could therefore create a difficult environment for Leclerc, particularly if he believes his performances are no longer being rewarded with equal opportunities.
It could also have implications for Ferrari beyond the current season.
Leclerc’s long-term commitment is valuable to the team, and creating unnecessary dissatisfaction could undermine its future planning.
On the other hand, Ferrari cannot allow internal competition to repeatedly compromise its results.
This is why the decision requires more than simply choosing the driver with the bigger trophy collection.
FERRARI MUST DECIDE WHAT MATTERS MOST BEFORE THE NEXT CLASH
Hill’s intervention has added another controversial opinion to an already heated Ferrari debate.
His argument is that Hamilton has the experience, reputation and recent performances to justify becoming the team’s clear leader.
However, Leclerc’s competitive record and long-term importance make Ferrari’s situation considerably more complicated than Hill’s proposed solution suggests.
The Scuderia must find a way to protect both drivers’ ambitions while ensuring that their battles do not damage the organisation.
The Brazilian Grand Prix could provide an important test of whether the recent discussions with Vasseur have produced a genuine improvement.
If Hamilton and Leclerc can race without another major confrontation, Ferrari may have an opportunity to move beyond the Mexico controversy without changing its driver hierarchy.
But if another incident occurs, pressure on Vasseur and president John Elkann will intensify.
Hill has made his position clear: Ferrari should make Hamilton number one and end the debate.
Whether that would solve Ferrari’s problems or create an even bigger disagreement is a question that will undoubtedly divide Formula 1 fans.
