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Ferrari seek reset after costly Hamilton-Leclerc clash
Ferrari held a meeting to address the clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Mexico City Grand Prix, after their battle cost the team a possible one-two finish. Team principal Frederic Vasseur said both drivers had clarified their positions and were now focused on the Sao Paulo race, while Hamilton said he remained frustrated.
Vasseur said the team’s guidelines were unchanged: the drivers must respect each other and Ferrari, and work professionally rather than be expected to become friends. Hamilton had started from pole in Mexico, but both Ferraris ran off track during their opening-corner fight, giving Max Verstappen the chance to win. Leclerc missed Sao Paulo’s first practice session, with Dino Beganovic taking his place; Mercedes boss Toto Wolff compared the episode to Hamilton’s past rivalry with Nico Rosberg.
In short
- Ferrari discussed Hamilton and Leclerc’s costly Mexico clash.
- Vasseur said the drivers had moved on to Sao Paulo.
- Ferrari expects mutual respect and professional conduct.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ferrari has a strong case for addressing the clash promptly: the drivers’ opening-corner battle cost the team a possible one-two, so clear rules and professional cooperation protect the team’s shared competitive interests. Vasseur’s position also leaves room for rivalry while making mutual respect, rather than personal friendship, the standard.
The case against
Hamilton’s continued frustration is understandable because a driver who started from pole may feel the incident compromised his race and that his account deserves to be heard, even after a team meeting. Strict team expectations can help Ferrari, but they should not obscure individual responsibility or prevent drivers from expressing disagreement about how a costly incident was handled.