Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur held discussions with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on Thursday evening in Sao Paulo. The meeting addressed their opening-lap collision at the recent 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix.
The talks occurred ahead of the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which is Round 20 of the 23-race Formula 1 season. The event at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace runs from Friday, November 6, to Sunday, November 8, featuring a traditional weekend format without a sprint race.
The Mexico City incident saw Hamilton, starting from pole position, and Leclerc, who began in third, make contact at Turn 4 on the opening lap. Leclerc moved to the outside, resulting in both cars running off track.
Hamilton was forced to slow, allowing Max Verstappen to advance to second place. Leclerc initially took the lead but was subsequently issued a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Verstappen ultimately won the race, with Hamilton finishing second and Leclerc fourth. The collision effectively eliminated Ferrari’s opportunity for a one-two finish.
Following the race, Hamilton expressed significant frustration over the team radio, stating Ferrari had “big problems” and describing Leclerc’s approach as “do or die.”
Vasseur later criticised both drivers, citing a “lack of respect” for the Ferrari team. The team principal flew back to Europe between the Mexico and Sao Paulo rounds before returning to Brazil for the discussions.
Leclerc, who had returned to Monaco for the birth of his first child, arrived in Brazil on Thursday. He subsequently sat out Friday’s Free Practice 1 session, with Dino Beganovic deputising.
Speaking on Friday, Vasseur confirmed the meeting had been productive. He stated that his position and the drivers’ positions were clarified, and the team was now focused on the upcoming race.
“We spoke yesterday evening because I had to fly back to Europe between the two races. It was good to discuss things and clarify my position and their positions. Now we turn the page and focus on the next one.”
Vasseur reiterated that the team’s guidelines remain consistent: drivers must respect each other and, primarily, the Ferrari brand and its personnel. He acknowledged the accumulation of frustration due to frequent side-by-side starts.
Ferrari currently holds second place in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship with 504 points, trailing Mercedes by 126 points after 19 rounds. Hamilton is third in the Drivers’ Championship with 259 points, while Leclerc is fifth with 245 points.
The Mexico City incident was not the first instance of uncompromising racing between the two Ferrari drivers this season. Previous events include a strategy disagreement at Zandvoort and a close encounter at Monza.
Hamilton has previously suggested that Leclerc races him harder than other drivers, drawing comparisons to his interactions with former teammates Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz.
Vasseur indicated that the specifics of his conversation with Hamilton would remain private. He also dismissed the notion that personality differences between the drivers posed a broader issue for the team.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who managed Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their intense rivalry, commented on the Ferrari situation. Wolff noted the challenges of managing two highly competitive drivers.
Wolff emphasised the importance of drivers respecting the team and the brand, drawing parallels to past incidents at Mercedes where tough situations established limits.
Leclerc stated after Friday’s practice sessions that the situation with Hamilton had been resolved. He noted that there had been considerable discussion over the past week.
During Friday’s Free Practice 2, Leclerc reported having “one of the worst feelings” in the car this year, indicating significant setup work was required overnight.
In Mexico, Hamilton’s preparations were also affected by a power unit problem during Friday’s Free Practice 2 session, which forced him to stop on track.
The 2026 World Drivers’ Championship was secured by Kimi Antonelli at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he finished third.
