Vasseur accuses Ferrari drivers of disrespect after Mexico clash

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has criticised Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after their opening-lap collision at the Mexico City Grand Prix, saying the incident showed a lack of respect for the team and the people behind it.

Hamilton started from pole, with Leclerc third. Their fight reached Turn 4, where both went off the track as Leclerc tried to get around the outside. Leclerc rejoined ahead, but the stewards later gave him a five-second penalty for gaining a lasting advantage. The clash also let Max Verstappen pass Hamilton.

The exchange has prompted further scrutiny of the Ferrari drivers’ relationship. Read our reports on Leclerc’s assessment of the Mexico clash and Hamilton’s call for Ferrari talks.

Vasseur says the incident cost Ferrari a potential win

Hamilton questioned the penalty over team radio, arguing that the five-second sanction left Leclerc with clean air. But when Leclerc served it during the pit stops, Verstappen moved ahead and held off Hamilton’s late challenge. The race also featured a second standing restart and a safety-car period.

Verstappen took the win, with Hamilton second and Leclerc fourth. The result left Red Bull with three victories in 2026, compared with Ferrari’s two.

Speaking after the race, Vasseur said he was struggling to accept what had happened. He argued that Ferrari had made a significant performance step and had thrown away a chance to win. He said the actions of the drivers reflected on the brand and the people working for the team.

Ferrari boss wants to speak with both drivers

Vasseur denied that his criticism was aimed only at Leclerc and said he wanted to speak to both drivers. He also noted that Hamilton had run wide during the incident.

The team principal emphasised that Ferrari represents its sponsors and a workforce of 2,000 people, not only the drivers on track. His frustration, he said, came from the perceived failure to consider the wider team’s efforts during the fight.

The result left Ferrari with both drivers on the podium’s outskirts and a dispute to resolve internally. Vasseur’s comments made clear that the opening-lap battle will be addressed with both Hamilton and Leclerc, rather than treated as an isolated mistake by one driver.