Hamilton calls for 'serious talks' at Ferrari after Leclerc clash in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton has called for “serious talks” within Ferrari after an opening-lap incident with team-mate Charles Leclerc that he believes cost the team victory at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Hamilton started from pole and held the lead through the opening corners, despite an early challenge from Leclerc, who moved into second. Leclerc then attacked around the outside on the run to Turn 4, but both drivers outbraked themselves.

Leclerc cut across the grass and rejoined after Turn 5 in the lead, while Hamilton ran wide on the exit of Turn 4 and lost momentum. Max Verstappen passed Hamilton shortly afterwards.

Leclerc received a five-second penalty, which dropped him behind Verstappen at the first pit stops. Hamilton remained behind Verstappen for the rest of the race, which included a red flag and a safety-car restart, and finished second.

Hamilton repeatedly questioned the penalty during the race and later said Ferrari had shown enough pace to win. “A tough, tough day,” he said. “I think we had the pace to win today, but it wasn't meant to be.”

He added that the drivers had agreed in their briefing that a driver cutting the grass at the first or second corner complex should give the position back. Hamilton also compared Leclerc’s punishment with a 10-second penalty he said he received for a similar move last year.

“Ultimately, it was that that lost us the win today, and I think we have to have some serious talks behind the scenes for sure,” Hamilton said.

Leclerc said he did not view the incident as especially serious because there had been no contact and both drivers had made mistakes. He also felt Hamilton’s own driving had been “very much on the limit”.

“We will talk about it, obviously,” Leclerc said. “I think he was maybe more angry with the whole situation, how the situation was dealt in Turns 4-5, with the penalty.”

Leclerc said both drivers had gone straight at Turn 4 and that Verstappen benefited from the loss of momentum. He added that he had briefly asked Ferrari what to do after the incident, but the situation was complicated by Verstappen getting between the two Ferrari cars.

Leclerc expected the incident to be discussed at the next drivers’ briefing, while insisting that the pair had been fighting for the win without team orders preventing them from racing.

Sources: The Race.