“When your teammate works against you, that’s definitely hard.” That was Lewis Hamilton’s blunt assessment after an explosive Formula 1 grand prix weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, where intra-team tensions at Scuderia Ferrari boiled over onto the track and spilled into the media.
Hamilton Vents over Leclerc's Corner Cut
The trouble began during the Mexican Grand Prix when Ferrari’s newly arrived superstar, Lewis Hamilton, secured pole position—the 105th of his illustrious career. However, teammate Charles Leclerc launched an aggressive move from third on the grid during the race start. Leclerc cut a corner, returned to the track directly ahead of Hamilton, and forced the British driver to vent his anger repeatedly over the team radio. Hamilton’s frustration did not subside even after race stewards handed Leclerc a five-second time penalty for the maneuver.
Hamilton finished the race in second place behind Red Bull victor Max Verstappen, but the seven-time world champion made no secret of his disappointment regarding the lost points. “We could have easily secured a one-two finish. We had the pace for it,” Hamilton stated. He added pointedly regarding his teammate’s approach: “The guy is 29 years old, so I don’t think it’s down to age. I think it’s a matter of mentality, and I hope that we will work towards a better environment, a better working climate in the future.”
Lap 46/62: Charles gets by Lewis on fresher rubber @Charles_Leclerc – P2@LewisHamilton – P3
Leclerc Defends Hard Racing at the Limit
Charles Leclerc offered a starkly different perspective on the wheel-to-wheel combat after crossing the line in fourth position, a result that left him off the podium entirely. The Monegasque driver argued that hard racing is an inherent part of fighting at the sharp end of the grid. “I could of course also get upset about how much he pushed me off the track in Turn 1,” Leclerc noted, addressing the initial sequence of the race. “But I think that’s just how it is in motorsport. When you’re fighting for the win, that’s simply part of it.”
The clash highlights mounting friction within the Scuderia since Hamilton joined the Maranello outfit for the 2025 season. While Hamilton has shown strong form returning to competitive contention this year, he has repeatedly questioned strategic decisions and operational behaviors within the storied Italian squad.
Vasseur Acknowledges Team Frustration
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur addressed the internal strife by emphasizing the collective emotional toll on the wider organization. Reflecting on the lost opportunity at the front of the field, Vasseur admitted the outcome was difficult to accept. “When you are in first or second place at Turn 4, it doesn’t even cross your mind that you might not win the race,” Vasseur explained. “This is very frustrating for me, but I am not the most important person—it is very frustrating for the 2,000 people working on this project. And I will have to digest that first.” Vasseur also stressed that mutual respect remains a core requirement within the team.
Hamilton to Discuss Team Protocol Changes
Looking ahead, Hamilton announced plans to hold a private, one-on-one conversation with Leclerc to address the lack of established collaboration guidelines within the garage. “We have no rules for working together, and whether that will change anything from Charles’ side, I don’t know,” Hamilton remarked, signaling that internal protocols require immediate revision before the next round on the Formula 1 calendar.
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🚨 | Lewis Hamilton on his first lap battle with Charles Leclerc:“Tough day. I think we had the pace to win today, but it wasn’t meant to be, and we’ll take it offline and figure out what we can do in the background."“In the drivers’ briefing, we discussed as soon as you go… pic.twitter.com/gqyDP6Voi9””
Lewis thinking ‘What in the Charles Leclerc is going on here????’ pic.twitter.com/JWc3XtwbUu
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