Lewis Hamilton is furious with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc following their opening lap tussle in Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix. Hamilton expressed his frustration and lamented that the intra-team battle and Leclerc’s “do or die” mentality ultimately cost Ferrari a victory.
The seven-time world champion believes Leclerc’s should have changed his approach, arguing that his teammate appeared more focused on winning the individual battle.
“The guy is 28 years old, so I don’t think it’s an age thing,” Hamilton told the media after the race. “I think it’s a mentality thing. It’s like do or die.
“Like, either I win, or none of us do, and it shouldn’t be that. It should be us having got that one-two, which is still a good feeling.”
The British driver also pointed out how teammates should approach the battle, giving the example of the 2026 British Grand Prix.
“At Silverstone, I could have gone all kamikaze on him and taken him off and lost us the win, but instead a one-two was there, and I think we got a one-two, or was it a one-three?” Hamilton said as he recounted the British GP.
“I’m happy for the team to have experienced that. I’m hopeful we’ll work towards a better place in the future.”
The Race-Defining Lap 1 Clash Between Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc
Starting from first (Hamilton) and third (Leclerc), the Ferrari drivers found themselves fighting for the lead at Turn 4 on the opening lap, with Leclerc taking the position after cutting the chicane and going on the grass. The incident proved costly for Hamilton, who, after securing the first pole for Ferrari, subsequently lost second place to Max Verstappen.
Hamilton was quite disappointed that the Italian outfit did not intervene and ask Leclerc to give up his position. He also questioned the leniency of the five-second time penalty handed to his teammate.
Despite starting from pole, Hamilton eventually had to settle for second place, while Leclerc finished fourth after the incident and subsequent penalty.
Verstappen went on to win his sixth Mexican Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli, who came third, became the sport’s youngest-ever world champion at just 20 years of age.
Lewis Hamilton Unsure How Ferrari Should Handle Intra-Team Battle Situation
Hamilton’s frustration extended beyond the incident itself, with the Ferrari driver admitting that he was unsure how the situation should be addressed when the team reviews the weekend.
“I don’t know what needs to happen now,” he said. “How we discuss things when we go back, I’m not quite sure how I want to engage in that.”
The result also left Hamilton with mixed emotions, particularly given the championship implications of the race. While he was pleased to see Antonelli win the 2026 title, the events surrounding Ferrari’s afternoon left him frustrated.
However, this was not the first time the Ferrari duo have been involved in a wheel-to-wheel battle this season. The pair had a fiery battle in China, while Leclerc also apologised for pushing Hamilton in Monza.
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- How Did Arvid Lindblad Crash at the Mexican GP?
- ‘I Take Full Responsibility’: Ayao Komatsu Admits He Had No Choice but To Sack Esteban Ocon
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