Hamilton criticises Leclerc after Ferrari lose Mexico Grand Prix win
Hamilton said Leclerc's lap-one move on him cost Ferrari a likely victory at the Mexico City race.
Key facts
Story- Lewis Hamilton criticised Charles Leclerc after a lap-one clash at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Hamilton started on pole and was in front before the incident, which Ferrari lost a likely win from.
- Hamilton described Leclerc's approach as a "do or die" attitude and said it was "a mentality thing".
Lewis Hamilton has criticised his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc over a lap-one clash that cost the team a likely victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Hamilton started from pole at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Leclerc third on the grid. George Russell then lost momentum into Turn 1, and Hamilton moved up to second. Hamilton said Leclerc attacked him at that point, and the two cars came together.
Hamilton said Leclerc's approach showed a "do or die" attitude. He also said the incident came down to "a mentality thing". The seven-time world champion said the result was a loss for Ferrari, which he said had been in a strong position for an easy win.
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Hamilton and Leclerc have raced together at Ferrari, and tensions between team-mates in Formula 1 are not new. Team-mate battles at the front of the grid often test how drivers share track space, particularly on the first lap, when grip is low and cars are close together.
How Leclerc responded to Hamilton's comments has not been reported. Ferrari has not said how it will handle the incident internally.
Formula 1 races are broadcast in India, and the Ferrari pairing draws wide interest among fans. The result leaves the team with fewer points than it expected from the weekend.
It is not yet known whether any penalty was given for the lap-one incident. It is also not yet known what changes, if any, Ferrari will make to its driver management before the next race.
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