Lewis Hamilton calls for talks with Charles Leclerc at Sao Paulo GP after Mexico on-track clash

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Lewis Hamilton said face-to-face talks with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc have yet to take place after their on-track dispute at the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend, and that he expects those discussions to happen during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton made the comments on Thursday ahead of the Brazil race, attributing the lack of an immediate meeting to Leclerc being back home for the birth of his first child and to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur having been in Europe at the team’s factory.

Hamilton said the Mexico incident left him disappointed because he believes Ferrari “should have easily had a 1-2.” He explained that he started from pole and finished second in Mexico but felt a potential race-ending combination was compromised after running side-by-side with Leclerc on the opening lap. Hamilton also referenced the decision that Leclerc received a penalty for cutting the track, after which Hamilton dropped behind Max Verstappen and could not regain the position.

Addressing the broader picture inside Ferrari, Hamilton said the team’s atmosphere remains strong. He praised the team’s progress over recent rounds, saying the “energy in the team is really great,” and that Ferrari has “been doing an amazing job.” Hamilton added that Ferrari has scored more points than anyone in the recent stretch, characterizing the team’s performance as improved “over the last four races” following changes and better execution.

Hamilton framed the Mexico collision as something Ferrari can learn from rather than merely paper over. While he was unhappy about missing the 1-2, he suggested that experiencing these intra-team complications in 2026—when the championships have already been lost—is preferable to encountering similar issues in a year when the title race is still live. He also said that building a clear foundation and “rules of engagement” between teammates will be important if Ferrari is to challenge for the championship in 2027.

On the timing of resolving disputes, Hamilton said he does not expect everything to be fixed in a single meeting, but insisted that discussions now are still important. He stated: “I don’t think everything is going to get squashed and sorted out in one meeting but it is important.” Hamilton said the process of what Ferrari builds now will position the team for the next season, adding that, although he would have preferred to win Mexico together, “from that you can learn” and “we can only really get stronger.”