Lewis Hamilton has publicly criticized teammate Charles Leclerc following their chaotic lap-one battle at the Mexico City Grand Prix, arguing that the incident was not about age but rather a fundamental issue with racecraft mentality. The two Ferraris engaged in a fierce duel for the lead during the first four corners of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Leclerc cutting across the second chicane to seize first place from the pole-sitting Briton. Hamilton, who also ran wide while defending, stated, “I don’t think it’s an age thing. I think it’s a mentality thing,” highlighting his frustration with the internal friction that defined the opening laps.
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The consequences of this intra-team skirmish proved decisive in the race outcome, as Hamilton was subsequently overtaken by Max Verstappen on the exit of Turn Five. The situation deteriorated further when stewards handed Leclerc a five-second penalty for running off track and gaining an advantage during the Turn Four incident. When the lead Ferrari served the sanction at its pit stop, Verstappen assumed the lead of the race, effectively handing Red Bull the victory that Ferrari had seemingly secured on the grid.
This incident underscores the growing tension within the Ferrari garage and the high stakes of their title fight. By losing the lead to Verstappen due to internal conflict and subsequent penalties, Ferrari squandered a golden opportunity to close the gap in the constructors’ championship. As the season progresses toward the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, fans can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, where the pressure on both drivers to deliver consistent, penalty-free performances will be higher than ever.
Source: Sky Sports
