Charles Leclerc has confirmed that his relationship with Lewis Hamilton is back on track following a meeting with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur to resolve the tensions sparked by their clash at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. The Monegasque acknowledged that disagreements between two highly competitive teammates are inevitable, but insisted that both drivers have now cleared the air and are ready to move forward.
Speaking during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc also suggested that the controversy had become unnecessarily prolonged, explaining that an open discussion with Lewis Hamilton had helped ease the situation.
Ferrari meeting helps resolve Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc tensions
Following the opening-lap battle between Ferrari’s two drivers at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which opened the door for Max Verstappen to claim victory, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur met on Thursday evening to address their differences.
All three subsequently confirmed that they had put the incident behind them and held productive discussions about how to handle similar situations in the future. However, the meeting did not result in the introduction of formal rules of engagement.
The talks followed a period of growing scrutiny surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Charles Leclerc, with the two Ferrari drivers facing questions about their ability to work together following the Mexican Grand Prix controversy.
Although the absence of formal racing rules leaves the team’s approach to future incidents open to interpretation, the discussions appear to have helped both drivers establish a better understanding of each other’s positions.
Charles Leclerc admits Ferrari controversy became exaggerated
After briefly addressing the matter on Friday, following free practice, Charles Leclerc was asked once again about the difficulties involving his Ferrari teammate.
The Monegasque explained that he had been completely open during the discussions and welcomed the opportunity to resolve their differences.
“Personally, I was obviously very direct, and I think it was positive to talk about it. I always think it’s necessary after a moment like this. I believe the matter has definitely been blown out of proportion; it has gone on for too long.”
Charles Leclerc did not deny that having two drivers competing for leading positions within the same team naturally creates the possibility of friction.
“Everything is fine between us now. Of course there’s tension, of course we want to finish ahead of each other, and sometimes we won’t do things the right way. And sometimes it’s fine to disagree about how we see things, but talking about it helps enormously, and you have to find common ground.”
His comments underline the distinction between a competitive rivalry and a relationship that has genuinely broken down. While Charles Leclerc acknowledged that differences of opinion will continue to arise, he believes direct communication remains essential to managing them.
The Mexican Grand Prix incident had already prompted wider discussion about Ferrari’s rules of engagement and driver management, particularly concerning how the team should respond when its two drivers find themselves competing directly on track.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clear the air after direct discussions
Speaking separately to Canal Plus, Charles Leclerc provided further insight into the conversation with Lewis Hamilton, confirming that both drivers had been able to explain their perspectives.
“We both told each other what we thought, and that calmed things down considerably.”
The Ferrari driver also addressed the timing of the meeting, explaining why the discussions could not have taken place earlier.
“For me, it was a very special week, and I couldn’t have had these discussions any earlier. It was important to do so, and I consider that chapter closed. It will be important to look ahead.”
His explanation offers further context for the delay between the events in Mexico and the eventual meeting involving both drivers and Fred Vasseur.
Despite the intensity of the disagreement, Charles Leclerc’s latest comments suggest that he now wants the focus to return to racing rather than prolonging the controversy surrounding Ferrari’s internal relationships.
The challenge for the Scuderia will be maintaining that understanding when its drivers find themselves competing directly again. With no formal rules of engagement established during the meeting, mutual communication and the ability to find common ground will remain particularly important.
For Charles Leclerc, however, the immediate message is clear: the discussions with Lewis Hamilton have taken place, both drivers have expressed their views, and the Monegasque considers the matter resolved.
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