Lewis Hamilton has delivered one of his strongest public criticisms of a Formula 1 teammate after accusing Charles Leclerc of working against him during Ferrari’s controversial Mexican Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion believes the opening-lap battle between the two Ferrari drivers cost the team a potential victory, and he has warned that the situation could continue unless serious action is taken.
Hamilton started from pole position in Mexico City and appeared perfectly positioned to lead Ferrari towards a potentially historic result. However, his battle with Leclerc approaching Turn 4 changed everything. The Monegasque driver went off track during the exchange, retained his position and subsequently received a five-second penalty after the stewards determined that he had gained an advantage.
Instead of immediately surrendering the position, Leclerc continued racing ahead, while Max Verstappen capitalised on the situation to move past Hamilton. The British driver eventually finished second behind Verstappen, with Leclerc classified fourth after his penalty. For Hamilton, the incident represented much more than an ordinary racing disagreement.
HAMILTON ACCUSES LECLERC OF WORKING AGAINST HIM
Speaking after the race, Hamilton made it clear that he believed Ferrari had lost an opportunity to secure a one-two finish because of the internal battle.
“We lost valuable points. We, as a team, worked so hard. We could have easily had a one-two today. We had the pace to do so,” Hamilton explained.
He then delivered the statement that could become the defining quote of Ferrari’s Mexican Grand Prix controversy.
“But when your teammate works against you, and then you lose positions like that, it’s definitely tough.”
Hamilton’s criticism was particularly significant because it directly questioned whether Leclerc had prioritised his own ambitions over Ferrari’s collective interests. The British driver believes both cars had the pace to control the race, but the battle between them allowed Verstappen to take advantage.
His frustration was also visible during the race, when he complained over team radio: “Got pushed out by my own teammate.”
“SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE” – HAMILTON DEMANDS SERIOUS FERRARI TALKS
Hamilton did not stop at criticising the incident. He also questioned whether Ferrari currently has sufficiently clear rules governing how its drivers should compete against each other.
“We don’t have rules of engagement, and whether or not that will change anything from Charles’ side, I don’t know,” he said.
The seven-time champion then made his position unmistakable.
“We’ve just got to figure it out, but something needs to change, for sure.”
Hamilton acknowledged that discussions with Ferrari would take place away from the public spotlight, but he insisted that the situation required a serious conversation rather than a superficial agreement.
“It’s a shame to see us lose as we did, and that will just continue unless action is taken and a real, deep, serious conversation is had, so it shouldn’t happen moving forward,” he added.
Those comments suggest Ferrari may face pressure to establish clearer expectations for wheel-to-wheel battles between Hamilton and Leclerc, particularly when both drivers are fighting for the lead.
HAMILTON WARNS FERRARI AGAINST REPEATING ITS OLD MISTAKES
Interestingly, Hamilton revealed that he had already witnessed similar situations involving Leclerc during his time at Mercedes.
Before joining Ferrari, the British driver watched Leclerc and Carlos Sainz repeatedly battle each other during previous seasons. According to Hamilton, those internal fights sometimes allowed rivals to escape while Ferrari’s drivers were busy competing against one another.
“Before I joined this team, when I was in Mercedes, I watched and witnessed the back and forth between Charles and Carlos for several races where they were battling so much that the person ahead just pulled away, and they had the pace to actually win the race,” Hamilton explained.
He believes the situation becomes even more serious when teammates are fighting for first and second rather than lower positions.
“But it’s one thing when that’s happening for fourth and fifth, as opposed to first and second, and you lose the win. That’s significant.”
Hamilton’s argument is straightforward: Ferrari should not sacrifice a potential victory because its drivers cannot manage an internal battle effectively.
“IT’S A MENTALITY THING” – HAMILTON QUESTIONS LECLERC’S APPROACH
Hamilton also rejected the suggestion that Leclerc’s behaviour could simply be explained by age or experience.
“The guy’s 28 years old, so I don’t think it’s an age thing. I think it’s a mentality thing,” Hamilton said.
He described what he believes is the wrong approach to racing between teammates, suggesting that Leclerc’s mentality could be interpreted as prioritising individual victory regardless of the consequences for Ferrari.
“It’s like ‘do or die. Like either I win or none of us do’, and it shouldn’t be that,” Hamilton added.
The comments are particularly striking because Hamilton has experienced intense internal rivalries throughout his career. His championship battles with Nico Rosberg and later his close competition with George Russell at Mercedes demonstrated how difficult it can be for two ambitious drivers to share a team.
However, Hamilton insists that experience should make drivers better at managing these situations rather than repeating the same mistakes.
HAMILTON REVEALS HOW HE COULD HAVE DESTROYED FERRARI’S SILVERSTONE RESULT
Perhaps the most revealing part of Hamilton’s interview came when he compared the Mexican incident with his own previous battles against teammates.
He specifically referenced Silverstone, explaining that he could have taken a much more aggressive approach against Leclerc but chose not to risk damaging Ferrari’s result.
“Silverstone, I could have gone all kamikaze on him and taken him off and lost us the win but instead it was first and third,” Hamilton said.
The remark highlights the difference between Hamilton’s preferred approach and what he believes happened in Mexico. Rather than allowing an internal battle to destroy Ferrari’s chances, he says he was prepared to accept a less favourable individual result to protect the team.
“For me, I’m happy for the team to have experienced that. But I’m hopeful we’ll work towards a better working place in the future,” he added.
That statement leaves the door open for reconciliation, but it also reinforces Hamilton’s belief that Ferrari must address the situation before it becomes a recurring problem.
FERRARI’S CHAMPIONSHIP AMBITIONS NOW FACE A TEAMMATE TEST
Hamilton’s Mexican GP comments could become a major turning point in Ferrari’s season. With the championship battle continuing and the Brazilian Grand Prix approaching on November 8, the team cannot afford to allow internal disagreements to overshadow its competitive ambitions.
The drivers’ standings after Mexico place Antonelli firmly ahead on 380 points, followed by Verstappen on 261, Hamilton on 259 and Russell on 250. Leclerc sits fifth with 245 points.
Although Antonelli has already secured the championship according to the Mexican GP reports, Ferrari still has important individual and team objectives to pursue. Every race remains an opportunity to collect valuable points, and internal battles could become increasingly costly if they repeatedly allow rivals to gain an advantage.
Hamilton’s message is therefore more than an emotional reaction to one incident. It is a demand for Ferrari to establish a working environment where both drivers can compete aggressively without undermining the team’s results.
The Brazilian Grand Prix will provide the next opportunity to see whether Ferrari’s Mexican controversy has produced meaningful changes. But after Hamilton’s extraordinary interview, one thing is unmistakable: the seven-time world champion is no longer willing to remain silent about what he believes is happening inside Ferrari.
