Lewis Hamilton has issued a stark warning to Ferrari, insisting the team must hold “serious talks behind closed doors” after a costly dispute with Charles Leclerc cost them victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The tension erupted on the opening lap when Leclerc cut a chicane to seize the lead from his teammate, a move that ultimately backfired. Hamilton, who lost second place to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as a direct consequence of the internal battle, stated, “Ultimately, that lost us the win today,” highlighting the severe impact of the team’s lack of cohesion on the track.
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The situation deteriorated during a red-flag period triggered by Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac crash, where Hamilton vented his frustration over team radio. “We’ve got big problems. Big, big problems,” the seven-time world champion declared, signaling a critical juncture for the Scuderia. While Verstappen capitalized on the chaos to secure the race win, Hamilton settled for second place. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli claimed third, cementing his status as the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history, a historic milestone that further overshadowed Ferrari’s troubled performance.
Leclerc attempted to de-escalate the situation post-race, acknowledging that both drivers “didn’t make the corner” but defending his decision to hold position against the Red Bull. “I don’t know if Lewis’ point was for me to get P3 but having the Red Bull second I felt it was worth it to keep the position and see what happened,” Leclerc explained. However, Hamilton’s blunt assessment suggests that Ferrari’s internal dynamics require immediate and decisive intervention to prevent further strategic missteps in the remaining season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
