Hamilton Criticizes Leclerc After Ferrari Misses 1-2 Finish in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton did not hide his dissatisfaction with teammate Charles Leclerc following the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The British driver blamed an opening-lap skirmish with his Ferrari stablemate for ruining the team's chances of securing a dominant one-two finish, stating that the pair need to have a serious conversation behind closed doors.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull ultimately claimed victory in the race, while Hamilton crossed the finish line in second place. Leclerc, who received a five-minute time penalty for an early race maneuver, finished in fourth position. Andrea Kimi Antonelli rounded out the podium in third. According to the seven-time world champion, Ferrari possessed the machinery to lock out the top two spots on the podium, but internal racing allowed their rivals to capitalize.

The trouble began immediately on the opening lap during a fierce battle for the lead. Hamilton started from pole position, while Leclerc launched from third and quickly closed the gap. The two drivers went wheel-to-wheel through the initial sequence of corners, exceeding track limits before Leclerc emerged ahead and kept the lead without yielding the position.

Race stewards investigated the incident and handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track, which the Monegasque driver served during his pit stop. The tussle also opened the door for Verstappen to slip past Hamilton and take the lead, a position the Dutch driver maintained to secure the win. Leclerc ultimately dropped to fourth near the end of the race after losing another position.

Speaking to the media after the event, Hamilton stressed that the dispute was not about age, given that Leclerc is 28 years old, but rather a matter of mindset. "It's like, 'It's all or nothing. Either I win or none of us win.' And it shouldn't be like that. We should be focused on getting that one-two," Hamilton declared. He added that the team had previously discussed the necessity of returning positions when an advantage is gained off the track.

Leclerc acknowledged that the penalty was fair, though he described the situation as confusing because both Ferrari cars went wide at turn four while Verstappen capitalized on the chaos. "I stayed in front and Max passed Lewis. So I asked what I should do. I kept the position and received a deserved penalty," Leclerc explained, adding that he intended to discuss the matter with Hamilton and the team while noting that hard racing is part of Formula 1.

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur also voiced his frustration over the lost opportunity, emphasizing the importance of respecting the brand, sponsors, and the thousands of factory employees. Vasseur stated that he would speak individually with both drivers to ensure team interests are prioritized.

The internal tension comes at a significant point in the season as the Formula 1 grid prepares for the upcoming São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. Following Antonelli's historic championship triumph in Mexico, the remaining races will focus heavily on the battle for second place in the Drivers' Championship and the ongoing Constructors' standings.