São Paulo - Toto Wolff delivered the best line of the day. Looking slightly disheveled after a barrage of questions directed at his friend Frederic Vasseur, he remarked: “For me, it's déjà vu. It feels like reliving the 2014-16 period.”

The Mercedes team principal can afford to take things lightly, with two world championships already under his belt. But he has a point. It's déjà vu for us, too, and for Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can barely stand each other anymore, much like the seven-time world champion and Nico Rosberg during their years together at Mercedes. There is, however, one important difference: until Rosberg retired, the two fought for the world championship year after year.

At Ferrari, to borrow a phrase from Gianni Agnelli that Wolff himself cited in Mexico City, the internal feud seems to be the only thing keeping the Scuderia “relevant” and in the headlines while results remain elusive.

Another déjà vu moment came Thursday evening, when the drivers and their team principal finally sat down for their much-anticipated meeting at Ferrari's headquarters in São Paulo. Yet another showdown. After more than an hour of talks at the hotel, Vasseur delivered a familiar message: “The rules have always been clear. The drivers must respect each other and, above all, respect the team, which comes before them, as do the brand, the sponsors and the fans. We failed at the last Grand Prix: we were running first and second, and we didn't win.”

The message was unmistakable: Ferrari will not tolerate any more outbursts or individual displays of ego, especially if they cost the team points.

Whether that will be enough to turn the page remains to be seen. There are reasons to be skeptical. Perhaps Hamilton and Leclerc have already begun to see an opportunity in 2027, which would explain the growing battle for the role of team leader.

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At Monza, Hamilton had called for written rules governing the relationship between the two drivers. Since the Mexican Grand Prix, he has repeatedly vented his frustration, even as his teammate was preparing to become a father. (“I won't be Bianca's godfather,” Vasseur joked. “I've already got enough kids at home.”)

Hamilton's comments have grown increasingly pointed. “Charles's mentality is: either I win or nobody wins.” Then came: “We need to be honest.” And finally: “He's more aggressive with me than with the others. He did the same thing with Vettel and Sainz.”

These were hardly offhand remarks. Ralf Schumacher, brother of Michael, Ferrari's most successful driver of all time, took the criticism a step further: “Hamilton acts as if he's the boss of Ferrari. When he speaks, he sounds like Al Capone.”

Hamilton's repeated public outbursts have not gone down well with either the team or Ferrari's top management. His difficult-to-manage personality — “I'll never let anyone silence me,” he has said — has long been a source of concern. As some have pointed out, by continuing to push his luck, Lewis risks undermining his own position. That was apparently one of the points raised during the meeting. “We talked, but what I told him remains private,” Vasseur said.

Paradoxically, those familiar with the situation say Leclerc may actually have been the more accommodating of the two.

“Talking things through is always a good thing. I've had a crazy week, and we hadn't had time to sit down together,” Charles said.

Even if he wanted to, Vasseur could not impose a No. 2 role on Leclerc. The contracts rule that out. “Lewis has known that since he signed,” Ferrari made clear at Monza.

So what happens next? Felipe Massa has a suggestion: “In my day, with Räikkönen, we gave priority to whoever was ahead in the standings after Spa.”

That option is not available this time around, which helps explain Hamilton's frustration. Ferrari can only hope the two drivers will show some common sense.

“I don't expect them to be best friends,” Vasseur concluded, fully aware of how strained the relationship has become, “but I do expect them to act like professionals.”

Lately, the two have found themselves battling wheel to wheel with increasing frequency, fueling what Vasseur described as “an escalation.”

“We have two competitive drivers. There are more advantages than disadvantages to that, but they must remember that if we've made it back to the top, it's thanks to the work of every single person in this team.”

And that work deserves respect.

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