Lewis Hamilton did not hold back after the Mexico City Grand Prix. The 41-year-old says Ferrari need “some serious talks behind closed doors” after a first-lap battle between the two scarlet cars handed victory to Max Verstappen — and the world championship to Kimi Antonelli.
Lewis Hamilton (Credits: BBC Sport)
Hamilton Ferrari Mexico GP Fallout: First-Lap Fight With Leclerc
Hamilton had done the hard part, taking his first pole position as a Ferrari driver in qualifying. But at the start, teammate Charles Leclerc cut the chicane to snatch the lead — and as the Ferraris fought each other, Verstappen slipped through to take second, then the win.
“Ultimately, that lost us the win today,” Hamilton said. “We have to have some serious talks behind closed doors.”
The frustration boiled over mid-race. During a red flag caused by a crash involving Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac, Hamilton fumed over team radio: “We’ve got big problems. Big, big problems.”
Charles Leclerc Response: “It Is Racing”
Leclerc, who finished behind Verstappen, defended his actions when told Hamilton was unhappy. “I will speak with Lewis. We both didn’t make the corner,” he said. “I could be also unhappy with how much he pushed me off track out of Turn One, but it is racing. When you are fighting for a win it is the way it should be.”
Hamilton’s argument is simple: had the two Ferraris worked together on lap one, they would have run first and second and could have controlled the race from the front.
A Season of Ferrari Teammate Tension
Mexico is only the latest flashpoint in a season of growing friction. Leclerc pushed Hamilton off track at the first corner of the Italian Grand Prix, ignored a team order to let Hamilton through when they ran different strategies, and in Singapore last month another tyre-strategy disagreement saw Ferrari refuse to make the call.
The painful irony: Verstappen himself admitted Ferrari had the fastest car. “Ferrari were really fast, I do think they made it a little bit difficult for themselves fighting each other and that’s why I was able to capitalise,” he said.
With the drivers’ title now decided in Antonelli’s favor, Ferrari’s internal war becomes the story of the season run-in — and Hamilton wants it sorted privately, fast.
Also Read: Kimi Antonelli Becomes F1’s Youngest World Champion Ever as Verstappen Wins Mexico GP | Lewis Hamilton: ‘F1 Has Never Had Anyone Like Me’
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
