Charles Leclerc has taken full responsibility for the opening-lap incident with teammate Lewis Hamilton at the recent Italian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver admitted he ‘went too far’ during their wheel-to-wheel battle at Monza, which resulted in Hamilton being forced into the gravel trap at Turn 2.
This admission marks a shift from Leclerc’s immediate post-race comments, where he initially suggested that ‘we went too far’ in the skirmish. Hamilton had publicly disagreed with this shared responsibility, stating there was ‘no ‘we’ in it’ and criticizing Ferrari’s communication regarding on-track conduct.
Leclerc confirmed that he held private discussions with both Hamilton and team principal Fred Vasseur following the incident. He stated that reviewing the footage made it ‘pretty clear that I could have done a better job’ by not putting Hamilton in a difficult situation.
Hamilton acknowledged the maturity shown by Leclerc in seeking a face-to-face conversation, confirming they had ‘squashed it’ and could move forward. Despite Hamilton’s initial complaints over team radio, FIA stewards noted the incident but ultimately decided no further action was required.
The incident significantly impacted both Ferrari drivers’ races at Monza. Hamilton, after being forced off track, recovered to finish sixth. Leclerc’s own race ended prematurely on lap two after a heavy crash at the Parabolica, which brought out a red flag.
The clash reignited discussions surrounding Ferrari’s ‘Rules of Engagement’ for its drivers. Hamilton had previously called for formal team orders, while Vasseur maintained that clear principles exist, emphasizing the need for drivers to protect the team.
Vasseur indicated a willingness to consider team orders later in the 2026 season if the championship situation warranted it, but deemed it too early at the time of the Italian Grand Prix. Hamilton, however, expressed a view that it was already too late for such interventions.
The Italian Grand Prix saw Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Hamilton currently sits third in the standings, 76 points behind Antonelli, with Leclerc in fifth position. Ferrari holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Leclerc also addressed the heightened scrutiny surrounding the incident, noting that any internal Ferrari clash, particularly at their home race in Monza, tends to be amplified by external commentary. He stressed that the focus should remain on improving performance.
Despite the on-track tension, Leclerc affirmed that the incident has not affected his strong relationship with Hamilton and will not impact their future collaboration. Both drivers are now preparing for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
