Hamilton stands by criticism of Leclerc and says he will not be silenced at Ferrari

The opening-lap clash

Lewis Hamilton says he is "still frustrated" over the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc ran wheel-to-wheel at turn 4. Leclerc was attempting to pass his teammate when both drivers ran off the track. Hamilton, who started from pole position, lost a place to Max Verstappen, while Leclerc cut through the grass and took the lead. Leclerc later received a five-second penalty, and Verstappen won the race with Hamilton second and Leclerc fourth. Hamilton insists the clash cost Ferrari a one-two finish, and the Mexico incident was the third time this season the two drivers have been at odds on track.

Hamilton will not back down

Speaking at a press conference in São Paulo on Thursday, 5 November, Hamilton said he had no regrets about his criticism of Leclerc and would not retract it. Asked whether Leclerc races him harder than any other driver, he answered yes, pointing to Singapore, where Leclerc was fully alongside Verstappen into turn 1 before backing off. Hamilton said the same pattern existed with his earlier teammates Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. He described Leclerc as very much embedded within the team, and said he has always respected that approach while working to build a good relationship with him. Hamilton has also pointed out that he received a 10-second penalty for running wide at the same corner during the 2025 race. His comments drew criticism in the days after the race, and reports suggested they had caused controversy within the team.

“I'm never going to apologise for being authentic and real and I'm not going to be silenced.”

Hamilton said he would keep pushing for change at Ferrari for as long as he is with the team, and he insisted that he has not been asked to stop speaking. He believes Ferrari could have achieved a one-two in Mexico, and he has asked the team for serious talks.

Talks still pending

Hamilton said he and Leclerc have not yet spoken about the incident, and the pair have not had the chance to speak with team principal Fred Vasseur. Ferrari has no formal rules of engagement between its drivers, and Hamilton has called for a written set of rules. Leclerc missed Thursday's media commitments after the birth of his daughter and is expected back at the track on Friday, 6 November. Vasseur publicly criticized both drivers for the Mexico incident and is due at an FIA news conference on Friday between practice sessions. Vasseur has framed the matter as one of respect.

“They are not working for themselves. They are working for a group.”

Looking ahead

Hamilton has said Ferrari needs to address the issue, but that the conversations will happen when the time permits. Hamilton's remarks came as the team prepared for the São Paulo Grand Prix, which is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November. Hamilton has said that his frustration remains and that the drivers and the rest of the team need to speak about recent racing incidents.