Vasseur Tells Ferrari Drivers to Respect Each Other After Mexico Clash

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc must respect each other after their opening-lap battle at the Mexico City Grand Prix nearly ended in a collision and cost the team a possible one-two finish. Vasseur spoke on November 6 in Sao Paulo, ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, after meeting with both drivers the previous evening. He did not disclose what was said in the meeting, but said the sides had clarified their positions and would now focus on the next race.

Hamilton and Leclerc ran off the track while fighting through the opening corners in Mexico. Hamilton lost a place to Max Verstappen, while Leclerc cut across the grass and took the lead. Verstappen won, Hamilton finished second and Leclerc was fourth after a five-second penalty. Vasseur said the incident was not acceptable when Ferrari had been in position to secure the top two places, and stressed that the teammates remain competitors who must respect one another.

Hamilton said on November 5 that he remained frustrated. He had sought a penalty against Leclerc during the race and has called for clearer expectations around on-track battles. Leclerc, who was absent from Thursday’s media duties after returning to Europe for the birth of his daughter, was at the track on Friday.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said he recognized the situation from Hamilton’s past clashes with Nico Rosberg, his teammate at Mercedes. Ferrari was second in the constructors’ standings, behind Mercedes, while Hamilton had 259 points and Leclerc 245. The Brazilian Grand Prix is the next race.