Lewis Hamilton has questioned Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc’s approach following their collision at the start of the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, November 1, resulted in both drivers losing positions and ultimately cost Ferrari a potential victory.
Hamilton, who started from pole position at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, was challenged by Leclerc into Turn 4 on the opening lap. Both Ferrari cars ran wide, with Leclerc cutting across the grass to gain the lead.
This manoeuvre allowed Max Verstappen to move into second place between the two Ferrari drivers. Leclerc subsequently received a five-second time penalty for gaining a lasting advantage by leaving the track.
Stewards noted that both cars entered Turn 4 with excessive speed, and Hamilton also went off track. The standard penalty for such an incident is 10 seconds, but mitigating factors reduced it.
Hamilton expressed frustration over team radio, stating he was ‘pushed out by my own team-mate’ and that the penalty was insufficient. He argued that Leclerc benefited from clean air despite the sanction.
Leclerc acknowledged the penalty was ‘deserved in a way’ but maintained that both drivers made errors. He indicated Verstappen’s presence influenced his decision not to immediately yield the position.
The Mexican Grand Prix was later red-flagged on lap 45 due to a heavy crash involving Valtteri Bottas. The Cadillac driver suffered a front-left suspension failure at Turn 1, leading to extensive barrier repairs.
Bottas was uninjured but shaken and excused from post-race media duties. Cadillac confirmed an investigation into the component failure.
Upon the restart, Hamilton managed to reclaim positions, finishing second behind race winner Max Verstappen. Leclerc ultimately finished fourth.
This incident marks the second time this season that Hamilton and Leclerc have clashed on track. An earlier confrontation at Monza saw Leclerc push Hamilton off at Turn 2.
Leclerc later admitted fault for the Monza incident, stating he ‘could have done a better job’ and that he ‘didn’t behave the way I should have’ as a teammate.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur publicly criticised both drivers, accusing them of a ‘lack of respect’ for the team and brand. He stated that throwing away a potential victory was unacceptable.
Vasseur indicated that discussions would be held with both drivers to address their actions. Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg called for Vasseur to implement clear rules of engagement.
Hamilton reiterated his concerns about Leclerc’s ‘do or die’ mentality, drawing parallels to previous intra-team battles involving Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
He emphasised the importance of securing a one-two finish for the team. Hamilton later posted on social media, stating that losing a potential win ‘hurts so much.’
The final classification for the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen win, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second. Kimi Antonelli secured third place, clinching the 2026 World Championship.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth, with Lando Norris fifth and George Russell sixth. Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Ryo Hirakawa completed the top ten.
