‘We’ve got big problems’ – Hamilton says Ferrari need ‘serious talks’
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari need “serious talks behind closed doors” after a clash with team-mate Charles Leclerc in the Mexico City Grand Prix cost the team a chance to win. Leclerc cut a chicane while taking the lead from Hamilton on the opening lap, and Hamilton then lost second place to Max Verstappen, who went on to win.
Hamilton said the incident “lost us the win”, while Leclerc said both drivers missed the corner and he chose to hold position with a Red Bull behind. The disagreement follows several tense moments between the Ferrari drivers this season, including disputes over track position and team orders at Monza and Singapore. Kimi Antonelli finished third and became Formula 1’s youngest world champion, according to the article.
In short
- Hamilton says Ferrari’s internal dispute cost them victory in Mexico.
- Leclerc says both drivers missed the corner.
- The clash adds to tensions between the team-mates this season.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ferrari should hold serious private talks because the opening-lap clash may have cost the team a win, and recurring disputes over position and team orders suggest the problem could affect future results. Clearer expectations could help both drivers race hard while protecting the team’s shared interests.
The case against
Leclerc’s decision to keep position was defensible in the moment: both drivers missed the corner, and he faced pressure from a Red Bull behind. A public call for serious talks risks making a difficult incident more contentious; Ferrari could instead assess the facts privately and avoid overreacting to a close racing judgement.
Explained simply
Ferrari is one of Formula 1’s leading teams, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as its two drivers. In a race, drivers compete for their own results while also trying to help their team score points and win.
When team-mates are close on track, decisions about who should hold position or give way can affect both drivers’ results. Ferrari has faced disagreements between Hamilton and Leclerc over such decisions earlier this season, making their relationship an important part of the team’s campaign.