Hamilton says Ferrari’s Mexico clash won’t be sorted out “in one meeting” as Leclerc misses the start of the Interlagos weekend
Ferrari lost a likely 1-2 in Mexico when both cars ran wide at Turn 4, Leclerc was home for the birth of his first child, and Dino Beganovic drove his car in first practice
Lewis Hamilton wants face-to-face talks with Charles Leclerc at the São Paulo Grand Prix after their opening-lap fight in Mexico City cost Ferrari a likely 1-2, but warned the issue will not be “squashed and sorted out in one meeting”. Leclerc missed Thursday’s media day and first practice at Interlagos after the birth of his first child.
Start times for every session (local, UK, CET and US Eastern): São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 start times
Two Ferraris, one corner, 13 points lost
Hamilton started the Mexico City Grand Prix from pole and kept the lead into Turn 1, with Leclerc passing George Russell for second. At Turn 4 both Ferraris ran wide while fighting over the same piece of track. Leclerc cut across the grass and came out in front, Hamilton lost momentum and Max Verstappen went past.
Leclerc received a five-second time penalty. Verstappen won, Hamilton finished second and Leclerc fourth. Ferrari scored 30 points instead of the 43 a 1-2 would have brought. Our full report: Verstappen wins the Mexico City Grand Prix as Antonelli is crowned world champion.
“I don’t think everything is going to get squashed”
Straight after the race, Hamilton said: “I think we have to have some serious talks behind the scenes for sure.” He added: “Last year I got a 10-second penalty for that same move that he did.”
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the São Paulo weekend, he chose a calmer tone but did not back down. “Of course, we should have easily had a 1-2 last race and so we’ve got to work to make sure that [it] never happens again,” he said, according to formula1.com.
“Ultimately, I 100% know my responsibility for the team, that’s never wavered and never will,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think everything is going to get squashed and sorted out in one meeting but it is important.”
He also saw something positive in it: “What we build now will put us in the right position for next year. In some ways, I’m glad we had that experience.”
Leclerc was not there to answer
The two drivers had not yet spoken about Mexico in person. Leclerc was back home in Europe for the birth of his first child, and team principal Fred Vasseur was at the factory, formula1.com reported. Dino Beganovic took Leclerc’s car in first practice on Friday and was 21st after technical problems limited him to 11 laps. Hamilton was fourth, 0.324 seconds behind Lando Norris.
Leclerc was back in the car for second practice and finished seventh, 0.270 seconds behind Hamilton in sixth: Antonelli fastest in São Paulo FP2, Câmara 16th on his Haas home debut.
Vasseur: “a clear reminder that Ferrari is coming first”
Team principal Fred Vasseur addressed the clash in the FIA team representatives’ press conference on Friday. He said he had discussed Mexico with both drivers on Thursday evening. “But, yes, the conclusion of the meeting yesterday evening was clear. It was a clear reminder that Ferrari is coming first,” Vasseur said. “It’s coming first for the brand, for the employees, for the Tifosi, and this, we have to keep it in mind.”
He also called Mexico a team failure: “For sure, in this situation, we failed collectively because we were one-two and we didn’t win the race at the end.” Vasseur kept the rest of the discussion private, but said he was not asking his drivers to be best friends, only to act and work as professionals. Source: FIA Friday press conference transcript.
Leclerc had already given his side in Mexico. “The penalty was deserved in a way,” he said, before adding: “I could also be unhappy with how much he pushed me off the track out of Turn 1. But I think it’s racing.”
Vasseur’s verdict that night was short: “My only discussion, it’s a matter of respect.”
Our read
Hamilton’s Thursday words sound like a team player, but read them twice. “We should have easily had a 1-2” puts the loss back on the table, and he had already pointed to his own old penalty for the same move. Leclerc says it was racing. Both can be right, which is exactly why Ferrari needs clear rules before Saturday, not after the next Turn 4. The fight for second in the championship (Verstappen leads Hamilton by two points, Leclerc is fifth) only raises the stakes.
Qualifying on Saturday at 15:00 local, the race on Sunday at 14:00
Qualifying at Interlagos starts on Saturday 7 November at 15:00 local time (18:00 UK, 19:00 CET, 13:00 ET). The 71-lap race starts on Sunday 8 November at 14:00 local time (17:00 UK, 18:00 CET, 12:00 ET). Results follow on our São Paulo Grand Prix 2026 results page.
Sources: formula1.com; FIA.
Should Ferrari impose team orders on Hamilton and Leclerc for the rest of the season, or let them race? Tell us in the comments.
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