Hamilton calls for Ferrari talks after Leclerc clash in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari must discuss its opening-lap fight with Charles Leclerc after the incident helped deny the team victory at the Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton finished second behind Max Verstappen, believing Ferrari had the pace to win.

Hamilton started from pole and held the lead through the opening corners, with Leclerc moving into second. The team-mates then contested the run to Turn 4. Both ran wide: Leclerc crossed the grass and rejoined in front, while Hamilton lost momentum and was overtaken by Verstappen soon afterwards.

The penalty and lost position fuel Hamilton’s frustration

Leclerc received a five-second penalty for the incident. At the first pit stops, that dropped him behind Verstappen. Hamilton could not get past the Red Bull driver for the rest of the race, which also featured a red flag and a safety-car restart.

Hamilton questioned the penalty during the race and said afterward that the episode needed to be addressed within the team. He argued the drivers’ briefing had established that anyone cutting across the grass in the opening complexes should give a position back. He also pointed to receiving a 10-second penalty for what he described as the same move the previous year.

The result has renewed attention on Hamilton’s relationship with Ferrari, though the issue he raised after the race was specifically the handling of the clash and its consequences.

Leclerc says both drivers were on the limit

Leclerc said he expected the matter to be discussed, but rejected the idea that the incident warranted particular concern. He felt Hamilton had also been pushing hard, and stressed that neither car made contact. In his view, both drivers made mistakes at Turn 4, allowing Verstappen to take advantage.

Leclerc said the team briefly considered whether he should give the position back. With Verstappen between the two Ferraris, he said it was unclear whether he should yield second or third, and he continued on track. He accepted that the size of his penalty could be debated, while noting that Hamilton also lost out when Verstappen passed him.

The drivers’ differing views leave the episode set to return at Ferrari’s next briefing. Leclerc described the close contest as an expected part of fighting for the lead, while Hamilton believes the outcome cost Ferrari a potential win. The clash adds another chapter to Leclerc’s recent exchanges with critics, but the immediate focus is how the team handles the dispute internally.