Hamilton calls for ‘serious talks’ at Ferrari after Mexico City clash

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari must hold “some serious talks behind closed doors” after a clash with team-mate Charles Leclerc helped cost the team victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Leclerc cut a chicane on the opening lap while taking the lead from Hamilton. Hamilton then lost second place to Max Verstappen as a result of his team-mate’s attack. Verstappen went on to win, with Hamilton second and Kimi Antonelli third — a result that made Antonelli Formula 1’s youngest world champion.

“Ultimately, that lost us the win today,” Hamilton said. During a red-flag period caused by a crash involving Valtteri Bottas, he had told Ferrari over team radio: “We’ve got big problems. Big, big problems.”

The episode follows a series of tensions between the Ferrari drivers this season. Leclerc pushed Hamilton off track at the first corner of the Italian Grand Prix, and earlier in that race ignored a team order to let him past when they were on different strategies. In Singapore, Hamilton felt he should have been allowed through while on different tyres, but Ferrari declined to intervene.

Leclerc and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had not spoken to the media after the race, the BBC reported.