Lewis Hamilton has criticised team-mate Charles Leclerc for his “do or die” perspective after Ferrari misplaced an easy victory on the Formulation 1 Mexico Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion began on pole at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Leclerc third, however he rose to second when George Russell misplaced momentum into Flip 1.
It was there that the Monegasque attacked Hamilton on the skin with the hope of finishing it down the within of Flip 2, however he as an alternative ran over that kerb and remained second.
Nevertheless it continued as Leclerc once more made a transfer on his team-mate on the exterior of Flip 4, but area rapidly disappeared and he took evasive motion by chopping Flip 5 to achieve the lead.
Hamilton was consequently overtaken by Max Verstappen, who subsequently took first because of Leclerc’s five-second penalty for the lap one fiasco, resulting in the Crimson Bull driver profitable.
The Briton in the end completed second forward of latest world champion Kimi Antonelli, whereas Leclerc took fourth, that means Ferrari remained on simply two wins throughout the 2026 marketing campaign.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Colin McMaster / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
A livid Hamilton mentioned: “After I was at Mercedes, I watched and witnessed the forwards and backwards between Charles and Carlos [Sainz] a number of races, the place they had been battling a lot that the individual forward simply pulled away, and so they had the tempo to really win.
“However it’s one factor when that is taking place in fourth and fifth, versus first and second, and also you lose the win. That is vital.
“The man is 28 years previous [sic], so I do not suppose it is an age factor. I feel it is a mentality factor.
“It is like, ‘Do or die. Both I win or none of us do’, and it should not be that. It ought to be us getting that 1-2.”
Sunday was the most recent in a collection of heated moments between Leclerc and Hamilton just lately, beginning with Zandvoort the place the Briton was held up and criticised the shortage of group orders.
Then the next race at Monza, Hamilton misplaced positions after being compelled onto the gravel at Flip 2, which Leclerc took accountability for, so the Briton reckons “critical talks” are wanted.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Colin McMaster / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
However he’s uncertain how a lot of a distinction that can make and after Mexico on Sunday, Leclerc instructed Sky Sports activities that “there was a spot and if you end up preventing for a win, I’ll all the time go for it”.
“I do not know what must occur now, how we focus on issues after we return,” mentioned Hamilton.
“I am not fairly certain how I wish to interact in that. After all, the frustrations are at present. I am joyful as a result of this man simply received the championship, so I am actually torn as a result of, on one facet, I am joyful, and on the opposite facet, I am actually pissed.
“We misplaced worthwhile factors, and we, as a group, labored so arduous. We might have simply had a 1-2 at present. Actually, we had the tempo to take action.
“We’re going into Flip 4 first and second. If we simply maintain place, I feel something can occur within the race. However when your team-mate works towards you and you then lose positions like that, it is undoubtedly robust.
“So, we’ll simply speak about it offline, and it is not likely value saying an excessive amount of extra. We do not have guidelines of engagement, and whether or not or not that can change something from Charles’ facet, I do not know.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / Formulation 1 through Getty Photos
“We have simply received to determine it out, however one thing wants to vary for certain.”
Hamilton’s feedback had been made with the workers at Maranello in thoughts amid it going yet one more yr with out a world title, because it trails champion-elect Mercedes by 126 factors.
“Fred’s doing his greatest,” mentioned Hamilton of group boss Fred Vasseur. “I feel Fred got here and spoke to me earlier than the race, and I feel he was nervous.
“He simply needed us… After all, he desires these two drivers to do properly. From my facet, if I am coming from behind and I am taking all the chance and it finally ends up that we lose as a group, then I feel I’ve some answering to do, as a result of it impacts lots of people.
“However the different approach round, I am within the lead, and it was simply pointless. I feel we might have simply, as I mentioned, had that 1-2 at present, which might have been enormous for the group and for everybody again on the manufacturing facility who’s labored so arduous to carry us these upgrades.
“I do not actually know what will probably be achieved as a result of up till now nothing actually has been achieved. So, yeah, we’ll see.”
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