Charles Leclerc has attributed his opening-lap incident with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix to the design of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. The Monegasque driver received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during the race on Sunday.
The incident occurred as both Ferrari drivers went wheel-to-wheel through the Turn 1-2-3 complex. Leclerc then pulled alongside Hamilton on the outside of Turn 4.
Both cars ran wide, with Leclerc cutting across the grass and assuming the lead, while Hamilton returned to the asphalt before Turn 5, losing a position to Max Verstappen.
Leclerc stated that drivers had discussed the track layout during the Thursday briefing, concluding that circuit changes are necessary.
“If there was obviously a wall at the exit of turn four, neither Lewis nor I would have pushed the braking point that much,” Leclerc commented.
He added that improvements to the track are needed to simplify racing, as the current layout makes it ‘very complicated.’
Despite his criticism of the circuit, Leclerc conceded that the five-second penalty was ‘deserved in a way.’ He noted the situation was confusing due to Verstappen’s presence after both Ferraris ran wide.
Lewis Hamilton, who started from pole position, expressed significant frustration over the incident. He stated that Leclerc’s aggressive start cost Ferrari a potential victory.
Hamilton was particularly critical of the five-second penalty issued to Leclerc, arguing that a 10-second sanction was more appropriate. He believed the lesser penalty effectively ‘handed’ Leclerc a win by allowing him to run in clean air.
The seven-time World Champion called for ‘serious talks behind the scenes’ and questioned Leclerc’s ‘do or die’ mentality.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur was visibly frustrated by the events. He accused both drivers of a ‘lack of respect’ for the team, the brand, and the 2,000 employees working at the factory.
Vasseur acknowledged that the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez layout does not assist, but firmly stated it ‘can’t be an excuse at all’ for the lost opportunity.
He highlighted that Ferrari had been running first and second at Turn 4, making the loss of a potential one-two finish difficult to accept. Vasseur confirmed he would hold discussions with both drivers.
The FIA stewards had issued specific warnings to drivers ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix regarding track limits at Turns 1-3 and 4-6.
The guidelines stipulated that any car leaving the track in these areas and maintaining position would be considered to have gained a lasting advantage, unless the position was yielded by designated points on the circuit.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, situated at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters, presents unique challenges due to thinner air affecting downforce and cooling.
The circuit has also undergone resurfacing in sections for the 2026 season, adding another variable for teams and drivers.
Max Verstappen ultimately capitalised on the Ferrari incident, securing his third victory of the 2026 season. Hamilton finished second, with Kimi Antonelli taking third place and clinching the 2026 World Championship. Leclerc finished fourth after serving his penalty.
Ferrari’s SF-26 has demonstrated improved performance in 2026, particularly in cornering, but internal driver battles have been a recurring issue, costing the team potential victories throughout the season.
