Lewis Hamilton has expressed agreement with the idea that his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, competes more aggressively against him than other Formula 1 drivers, following their collision at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion criticized Leclerc’s “do or die” style after the Monaco driver overtook him by cutting a chicane during a fierce battle on the first lap at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Hamilton fell behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who eventually won the race, while Leclerc finished fourth but received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track. Hamilton believes their duel cost Ferrari a potential victory and a one-two finish.
When asked about whether he notices Leclerc racing him harder than others, Hamilton responded, “Yes. I see what you see. In Singapore, he was fully on the inside into Turn 1, had won the lead, and then backed off, which was clearly different. But if you look at teammates, it’s been the same with Sebastian [Vettel] and Carlos [Sainz].”
Hamilton is calling for “serious talks” within Ferrari to address the issue and remains “still frustrated” by how the incident unfolded. “Naturally I was frustrated, and I’m still frustrated,” the 41-year-old said. “We had an opportunity to win for the team. They’ve done an amazing job bringing upgrades this year, scoring more points than any other team in recent races. We could have easily finished first and second, so it’s something we need to work on to prevent it from happening again.”
Despite criticism, including from Ralf Schumacher who compared Hamilton’s radio messages to behavior akin to gangster Al Capone, Hamilton remains unapologetic. “I don’t really care how everyone feels about what I’ve said. I wear my heart on my sleeve and speak my mind in the moment,” he said. “People think what I say is calculated, but when you’re racing at 200 mph and your heart rate is 170, you don’t have time to plan your words or consider the media. Sometimes you say things you might regret later, but I won’t apologize for being authentic. I’ve never been silenced nor asked by my team to hold back, and that’s how it is.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur plans to hold important discussions with both drivers on Friday in Brazil to address their ongoing internal friction.
Fan Take: This tension between Hamilton and Leclerc highlights the intense battles that can arise within top teams, offering thrilling drama for racing fans. How Ferrari manages this rivalry could shape their championship hopes and may influence how team dynamics are handled across Formula 1 in the future.
Source: www.crash.net
