Hamilton calls for Ferrari talks as Leclerc accepts Mexico penalty

Lewis Hamilton has called for Ferrari to address how its drivers race each other after their opening-lap contest at the Mexico City Grand Prix helped Max Verstappen take victory. BBC Sport reported that Hamilton believed Ferrari had sacrificed a possible one-two finish, although that remained his assessment of what might have happened rather than a guaranteed outcome.

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Hamilton said the team needed private discussions and changes to prevent a repeat. According to the BBC, he argued that decisions made by the drivers affected the wider workforce and that cooperation was part of their responsibility. Team principal Frederic Vasseur also expressed frustration and said Ferrari would discuss the incident before moving its attention forward.

Formula 1’s official website reported that Charles Leclerc accepted his five-second penalty for overtaking Hamilton outside the track. Both Ferraris went wide at Turn 4 during their fight for the lead, with Leclerc crossing the grass and emerging ahead. Verstappen moved between the two cars, leaving Hamilton behind both his team-mate and the Red Bull driver.

Leclerc explained that Verstappen’s presence influenced his decision to retain the position rather than immediately give it back. He said he would speak with Hamilton, while also maintaining that their confrontation was part of racing. F1 reported that the stewards reduced the usual 10-second sanction because Hamilton had also left the circuit and the incident occurred early on the opening lap.

In its separate report on Verstappen’s victory, F1 detailed how Red Bull converted the opportunity into the race lead. Verstappen started fifth and climbed to third at the start before benefiting from the Ferrari battle. Red Bull then brought him into the pits alongside Leclerc, whose penalty allowed Verstappen to move ahead during the stops. It was his third victory of the season.

Hamilton kept the pressure on but finished 0.799 seconds behind Verstappen, according to F1. Leclerc finished fourth, while Kimi Antonelli’s third place secured his first world championship. Verstappen said Ferrari had shown strong pace but that its drivers’ contest had created an opening he could exploit. The result also left him two points ahead of Hamilton in the drivers’ standings.