The controversy surrounding Ferrari’s disastrous opening-lap battle at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix has taken another unexpected turn, with Formula 1 fans increasingly pointing the finger at Lewis Hamilton after footage from his onboard camera emerged. Despite Charles Leclerc receiving a five-second penalty for cutting the chicane and retaining the position, many viewers now believe Hamilton played a significant role in the incident.
The dramatic exchange between the two Ferrari teammates has become one of the biggest talking points following a race that Ferrari had a genuine opportunity to win. Hamilton started from pole position, while Leclerc began third behind George Russell. However, as Russell dropped back, Leclerc immediately challenged Hamilton, setting up an intense battle between the two drivers.
HAMILTON’S ONBOARD FOOTAGE CHANGES THE CONVERSATION
The newly released footage from Hamilton’s cockpit has divided the Ferrari fanbase. It shows Leclerc attempting to overtake around the outside through the chicane at Turns 4 and 5. According to the report, viewers believe Hamilton left insufficient room and approached the corner in a way that made completing the turn difficult.
Some fans argue that Hamilton was so determined to prevent his teammate from getting ahead that he compromised his own racing line. Their criticism is that the seven-time world champion appeared more focused on defending his position against Leclerc than ensuring Ferrari maintained control of the battle.
One fan claimed Hamilton braked so late that he was never realistically going to make the corner. Another argued that his aggressive defence ultimately allowed Max Verstappen to take advantage of the situation.
These reactions have complicated the public perception of the incident. Leclerc was penalised for cutting the chicane and keeping the position, but the onboard footage has encouraged supporters to examine what happened immediately before the controversial move.
WHY LECLERC RECEIVED THE PENALTY
The FIA stewards ultimately imposed a five-second time penalty on Leclerc after he gained an advantage by leaving the track and remaining ahead. The penalty addressed the advantage gained, but it did not automatically settle the wider argument about who created the circumstances that led to the incident.
Hamilton and Verstappen both questioned over team radio why Leclerc had not surrendered the position. However, Leclerc remained ahead, and the penalty was applied.
The incident also exposed the difficulty of managing an intense battle between teammates. Drivers are expected to race competitively, but teams must also protect their overall interests. Ferrari’s problem was that its two drivers became involved in a confrontation that gave Verstappen an opportunity to capitalise.
LECLERC HAS HIS OWN VERSION OF EVENTS
Leclerc has not accepted the idea that he was solely responsible for the confrontation. The Monegasque driver argued that Hamilton had pushed him off the track earlier, particularly during their fight through the opening turns.
“I could also be unhappy with how much he pushed me off the track out of turn one, but it is racing. When you are fighting for a win it is the way it should be,” Leclerc explained.
His comments highlight the central disagreement between the Ferrari teammates. Hamilton believes Leclerc’s decision to retain the position cost the team a potential victory, while Leclerc considers the earlier wheel-to-wheel battle part of normal racing.
There is an important distinction here: the five-second penalty dealt with Leclerc’s track-limit advantage, while the onboard footage has triggered a separate debate about Hamilton’s defensive driving. One decision does not necessarily settle every question surrounding the incident.
FERRARI’S INTERNAL PROBLEM IS NOW BIGGER THAN ONE CORNER
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has already expressed serious frustration with both drivers, describing the incident as a lack of respect for the team, its brand and the thousands of people working behind the scenes.
That reaction suggests Ferrari is concerned about more than the lost victory. The team has invested heavily in improving its performance, and the Mexican Grand Prix offered an opportunity to collect a major result. Instead, the internal battle allowed Verstappen to take the win.
The situation also raises questions about Ferrari’s rules of engagement. If Hamilton and Leclerc are allowed to fight without clearer boundaries, similar incidents could happen again, particularly when both drivers are competing for important championship positions.
Ferrari cannot expect its drivers to avoid every confrontation, but it must establish a clear understanding of how they should race each other when a victory is within reach.
BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX COULD BECOME A TEST OF FERRARI’S UNITY
Attention now turns to the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 8, where Ferrari will have an immediate opportunity to respond. However, the bigger challenge may be restoring confidence and cooperation between its two drivers.
Hamilton and Leclerc are both experienced competitors with ambitions of winning races. Neither will want to be treated as the driver who must always surrender, but Ferrari cannot afford to let individual battles repeatedly undermine its collective results.
The latest footage has certainly strengthened the argument against Hamilton among some fans, even though Leclerc was the driver who received the official penalty. The stewards’ decision and the supporters’ interpretation of the incident are two different things.
Ferrari now faces an uncomfortable reality: its biggest problem in Mexico may not have been a lack of speed, but the inability of its two drivers to turn that speed into a team victory. If the same tension follows them to Brazil, the consequences could be even more damaging.
