Will Buxton slammed Ferrari for the pitwall stalling after the Dutch Grand Prix, noting the Maranello outfit missed an instant team‑order move that Mercedes executed at the speed of a world‑champion.
Buxton argued the incident exposes a deeper test for Ferrari’s management rather than the drivers themselves, highlighting the need for decisive teamwork at a championship‑level club.
Drivers at the Heart of the Dispute
Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019 and is deeply ingrained in the team’s culture, whereas Hamilton joined the Maranello ranks in 2025 after a 12‑year tenure with Mercedes. The seven‑time champion required time to acclimatise but re‑claimed top form in 2026.
“You can’t please both, that much is clear,” Buxton added, noting how the dynamic between the “golden child” Leclerc and the GOAT Hamilton will inevitably produce friction in certain scenarios.
Team Orders vs. Team Identity
Buxton said Ferrari’s hesitation to give a team‑order during the seventeenth‑lap position swap was a “bout of frustration” for Hamilton and a sign that the team hasn’t yet adopted the split‑second decision‑making Ferrari’s rivals boast of. He suggested the issue is not just about individual driver feuds but about the organisation imposing structure.
The former F1 TV pundit stressed that the lack of written policy could be derailing the squad’s championship ambitions, especially when Hamilton’s experience of a clutch‑executing Mercedes is at odds with Ferrari’s current execution pace.
“You’ve got a driver who expects the same world‑champion mentality at every outburst,” Buxton said, “and if that level of responsiveness isn’t achieved, titles will slip through the cracks.”
Buxton raised the question of whether the problem lies within Ferrari’s internal dynamics or in the character clash of Charles and Lewis and called for an urgent, clear framework to keep both parties aligned.
This exchange signals a new chapter in Ferrari’s pursuit of performance parity and will shape the narrative of their 2026 campaign, stitching together the old and the new in a high‑stakes pursuit of glory.
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