Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have confirmed their on-track dispute from the Mexico City Grand Prix is resolved. The Ferrari teammates held discussions ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, aiming to move past the incident that impacted the team’s performance. Team Principal Frederic Vasseur had previously stressed the importance of team interests.
The incident occurred on the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1, 2026. Pole-sitter Hamilton and Leclerc raced wheel-to-wheel into Turn 4, resulting in both cars running off the circuit. Hamilton lost a position to Max Verstappen, while Leclerc rejoined ahead after cutting across the grass.
Leclerc subsequently received a five-second time penalty for gaining a lasting advantage. This penalty was reduced from a standard ten seconds due to Hamilton also leaving the track. Verstappen ultimately won the race, with Hamilton finishing second and Leclerc fourth.
Hamilton expressed significant frustration following the race, stating the clash cost Ferrari a potential one-two finish. He called for ‘serious offline talks’ to address the situation. This was not the first instance of friction between the drivers this season, with previous issues at Zandvoort and Monza.
The clear-the-air talks took place on Thursday evening in Sao Paulo, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Leclerc arrived late for the race weekend following the birth of his daughter. Hamilton confirmed that he and Leclerc spoke directly, without Vasseur present, to resolve their differences.
“Me and Charles sat and spoke, and we squashed it, and we’re moving on,” Hamilton stated. “We still have a huge amount of respect for each other, and I’m glad we had a chat, and now we move on.”
Leclerc echoed Hamilton’s sentiments, declaring the matter a ‘closed chapter’ and emphasizing the need to focus on future races. Vasseur also confirmed on Friday that the team had ‘turned the page’ after productive discussions with both drivers.
Vasseur had previously instructed both drivers to ‘respect each other’ and prioritize the team. He acknowledged that the Mexico incident, which cost Ferrari a potential one-two, was not a positive outcome.
Despite the tensions, Vasseur has opted against implementing new ‘rules of engagement’ for his drivers. He maintains that professionalism and mutual respect should guide their on-track conduct. Vasseur believes their competitive rivalry has contributed to Ferrari’s strong points performance in recent races.
In the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes has already secured the title. Lewis Hamilton currently sits third with 259 points, while Charles Leclerc is fifth with 245 points. Ferrari holds second place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind Mercedes.
Both Hamilton and Leclerc are facing grid penalties for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026. Leclerc will start from 14th position due to a new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).
