Hamilton says Ferrari has not discussed Leclerc clash after Mexico City GP
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 6, 2026
Hamilton clash review
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton said the team has not yet had a serious, in-depth discussion with Charles Leclerc after their first-lap clash at the Mexico City Grand Prix, a move that damaged Ferrari’s chance at a win. Hamilton said the timing has made a full reset difficult because the schedule has stayed tight and Leclerc’s personal circumstances have added another layer to the situation. The exchange came after a race that quickly turned from a shot at control into an opening-lap problem, and Hamilton made clear Ferrari still has unfinished business from it. He did not frame the issue as something already settled. He said the team has simply not had the time to sit down and work through it in detail. That matters because Ferrari entered the race with a real chance to press for victory, and the clash took that opportunity away. Hamilton’s comments point to a familiar Formula 1 pattern, where the next event arrives fast and leaves little room for reflection. In this case, the Mexico City incident sits alongside a busy run of races and a separate personal situation for Leclerc, which Hamilton said has made the discussion more complicated. The result is a Ferrari question that remains open, with the fallout from one first-lap touch still hanging over the team’s internal conversation.
Leclerc teammate edge
Hamilton also gave a direct view of how he sees Leclerc’s approach in wheel-to-wheel fights, saying yes when asked whether Leclerc races teammates harder than other drivers. He backed up that view with examples. Hamilton pointed to the Singapore Grand Prix as a race where Leclerc backed off when he was alongside Max Verstappen. He said he has seen a similar pattern in Leclerc’s battles with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. That assessment adds another layer to the current Ferrari situation because Hamilton is not just talking about one clash in Mexico City. He is tying it to a longer pattern of how Leclerc handles pressure when the car beside him belongs to a teammate or another leading rival. The comments also help explain why the contact drew attention inside Ferrari. If Leclerc pushes harder in those situations, then the margin for error shrinks fast when two front-running teammates meet on track. The examples he gave were specific. He said he has seen it before, and he named races and rivals to support that view. That makes his Mexico City comment part of a broader read on Leclerc’s racing style, one shaped by close battles against some of the biggest names in the field.
Sainz Ferrari memories
Carlos Sainz offered his own view of life beside Leclerc at Ferrari, and he painted a picture that was intense but mostly respectful. He said he came away with positive memories of racing Leclerc, that the two respected each other and that they never made contact on track. He also said they usually settled any disagreements the same night they spoke, which kept the tension from carrying over too long. Sainz did not hide the harder side of the job, though. He said battles for wins made both Ferrari drivers more selfish at times and that racing for Ferrari can sharpen that edge even more. For him, that pressure was part of the package. He said the hardest part of his Ferrari stint was the very hardcore fan reaction, including insults and negative treatment from some Leclerc supporters. He also said sections of the Italian media put pressure on team roles, which added another layer to the atmosphere around the garage. Even with that backdrop, Sainz pointed to Monza and Las Vegas as examples of strong but respectful battles with Leclerc. He said the pair could fight hard without letting the relationship break down. He also suggested that same Ferrari pressure could affect the current pairing of Leclerc and Hamilton, saying the rivalry between them may be intensified by the demands of racing for the Scuderia.
