“I’m still annoyed”, “we need to have a discussion”: Lewis Hamilton doesn’t let up after the incident with Charles Leclerc in Mexico

The tension remains palpable. The seven-time British Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, said Thursday that he was still “annoyed” by the incident in the race with his Monegasque teammate Charles Leclerc, at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix last Sunday, which would have cost Ferrari victory.

The two drivers engaged in a fierce battle from the first corners, narrowly missing a collision, while the Englishman started in pole position and Leclerc third.

The Ferraris were forced to leave the Mexico track briefly, with Hamilton venting his anger on the radio against the Monegasque's maneuver which took the lead of the race before being punished with a five-second penalty.

They thus offered victory to Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and finished second and fourth respectively.

“I was obviously annoyed and still am. We must have a discussion and we will have it in due time when we return to Europe,” Hamilton threatened in front of journalists in Sao Paulo, while Leclerc was absent from the day dedicated to press conferences, due to the birth of his daughter.

“We had the opportunity to win for the team which did an incredible job in pulling us to the top this year,” tackled the Briton, crowned once with McLaren and six times with Mercedes before joining Ferrari in 2025.

Leclerc more aggressive with Hamilton?

Asked if Charles Leclerc, who considers Ferrari his "second family", was more aggressive with him in racing than with their competitors from Mercedes, Red Bull or McLaren, he replied "yes".

“I see the same thing as you (...) If we look at his teammates, it was the same with Sebastian (Vettel) and with Carlos (Sainz)”, former Ferrari drivers, he said. The 41-year-old F1 superstar had already pointed out “big problems” within the Scuderia and demanded a meeting with Leclerc and their French director Frédéric Vasseur.

The latter seemed to disavow Leclerc just after the Mexican GP by expressing his “annoyance” for him and for “the 2,000 people who work” at Ferrari F1. “It will take me time to digest all this,” he said.

Ferrari is second in the constructors' standings, 126 points behind Mercedes, almost assured of being world champion. Hamilton is third in the drivers' standings, two points behind Verstappen, and Leclerc is fifth, while Italian Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was crowned world champion on Sunday.