Verstappen blames Ferrari policy for Mexico City clash
NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 11, 2026
Verstappen on Ferrari
Max Verstappen said Ferrari’s equal No. 1 driver policy helped cause the opening-lap clash in Mexico City, and he said he would never run a Formula 1 team that way. Speaking during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen said two drivers who share top status will not yield when the race turns into a fight for track position. He said a clear No. 1 and No. 2 structure would have avoided the clash and could have helped Ferrari finish first and second. He also said he would change Ferrari’s structure if he were team principal. In his view, the clash grew out of a setup that gave both drivers equal status.
Hamilton and Leclerc in Mexico
Lewis Hamilton started from pole position in Mexico City, but Charles Leclerc pressed him immediately at the start and the pair ran wide at Turn 4 on the opening lap. Leclerc later received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and Hamilton said the sanction was too lenient. He said there should be “serious talks” behind the scenes. Hamilton finished second in the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Leclerc ended up fourth. Verstappen took advantage of the fight to win the race.
Vasseur keeps Ferrari
Hamilton said he and Leclerc had spoken with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in Brazil and had “squashed” the incident. Hamilton said he and Leclerc still had mutual respect and wanted to put the matter behind them. Vasseur took a firm line from the team side and said Ferrari’s rules had not changed. He said both drivers had to respect each other, the team and the people working for Ferrari. Vasseur’s message stayed simple, the rules remain in place and the responsibility falls on both drivers to race each other with respect.
