Opting not to use Lewis Hamilton to give Charles Leclerc the tow in qualifying at Monza, Fred Vasseur said the risk wasn’t worth upsetting Ferrari’s “positive mood” at its home race.

Ferrari raised eyebrows when it opted not to use Hamilton, who was facing a five-place penalty, to boost his teammate’s chances of securing pole position in front of the Tifosi.

Ferrari opted not to use the slipstream at Monza

Leclerc finished Q3 with the fourth fastest time, 0.215s down on surprise pole-sitter Max Verstappen, with Hamilton fifth fastest before his penalty was applied, dropping him to tenth on the grid.

Hamilton made it clear he wouldn’t have supported the idea had he been asked to assist the Monegasque driver.

“Do I feel like they should have? I don’t,” Hamilton made clear to PlanetF1.

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