Hamilton clarifies Leclerc Mexico dispute
Following their clash in Mexico last week, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were not on the best of terms, yet the British driver has provided a significant update regarding the conversation between the pair.
During the Mexico City Grand Prix, Hamilton and Leclerc engaged in a fiercely disputed opening-lap fight for the lead, a sequence that resulted in Hamilton losing ground while Leclrec received a five-second time penalty.
This combination of outcomes caused Ferrari to miss what was likely its best opportunity for a Grand Prix win in some time, leaving Hamilton furious.
As Hamilton questioned Leclerc’s mindset and his readiness to push his teammate harder than his rivals, the Monegasque was preoccupied with other matters, having welcomed his first child earlier in the week alongside his wife Alexandra.
The seven-time World Champion desired “serious conversations” with the Scuderia, while Team Principal Fred Vasseur shared this frustration, insisting that the team’s interests must take precedence, a view that aligned with Hamilton’s own feelings.
The upcoming Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend promises to be challenging, as Leclerc faces a 10-place grid drop for an engine component change, while Hamilton begins from the rear following a complete power unit replacement.
Although Interlagos saw no sunshine after a wet qualifying session, the Maranello-based squad did receive some positive news.
In his post-session comments, Hamilton addressed whether he had held any ‘clear the air’ discussions led by Vasseur, noting that the Frenchman was not heavily involved, but that he and Leclerc had reached a significant understanding.
“I mean, Fred hasn’t cleared the air, in the sense of like me and Charles,” he told Sky Sports F1. “We sat and spoke, and we squashed it, and we’re moving on.
“I think we still have a huge amount of respect for each other, and I’m glad we had a chat. Now we move on. And we’ve been getting along just fine as normal, so sometimes, in those scenarios, it just takes having a conversation.
“And there’s been no demands from either side. It’s just been both giving our points and areas that we can do better and support each other.
“So I’m hoping to have a better race this week, of course.”
There is widespread relief within the team back in Italy, though the true test will come in the remaining races if Hamilton and Leclerc can collaborate effectively to help Ferrari secure P2 in the Constructors’ title.
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