Charles Leclerc has become the target of an unusually aggressive attack in the British press following his controversial clash with Lewis Hamilton at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy has openly supported the seven-time world champion’s position, delivering a highly personal criticism of the Monegasque while also raising concerns about growing tensions within Ferrari.
The controversy has extended beyond the opening-lap incident that resulted in Charles Leclerc receiving a five-second penalty. Writing in his Voice of the Paddock column on 4 November, Jonathan McEvoy also reported claims of a tense post-race debrief inside the Maranello team, adding another dimension to the debate over how Ferrari manages its two drivers.
Daily Mail journalist delivers harsh criticism of Charles Leclerc
Jonathan McEvoy’s assessment was particularly confrontational, beginning with a headline containing a personal insult directed at Charles Leclerc and questioning the Ferrari driver’s character and conduct.
The British journalist’s strongly worded criticism went considerably further than simply examining the sporting consequences of the Mexico City incident. His position was clearly sympathetic towards Lewis Hamilton, whose frustration with his teammate had already become a major talking point following the Grand Prix.
McEvoy’s judgement represents his own opinion rather than an allegation made by Lewis Hamilton or an official position adopted by Ferrari. Nevertheless, the severity of the language illustrates how the disagreement between the two teammates has attracted attention beyond the Formula 1 paddock.
The disagreement itself arose from the controversial opening-lap battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, which left both drivers defending their respective interpretations of what happened.
Lewis Hamilton receives British media backing after Mexico GP penalty
The central issue was Charles Leclerc’s decision to maintain his advantage over Lewis Hamilton after leaving the circuit during their early-race confrontation.
The Ferrari driver was subsequently handed a five-second time penalty for the manoeuvre. Charles Leclerc later acknowledged that the punishment was justified, although the incident had already significantly complicated the relationship between the teammates during the race.
Lewis Hamilton believed their confrontation had deprived Ferrari of an opportunity to secure a one-two finish in Mexico City. His frustration was not limited to the penalty itself, but also concerned the way the situation had unfolded between two drivers representing the same team.
In his assessment, Jonathan McEvoy supported the British driver’s position and criticised Charles Leclerc’s conduct. The journalist also questioned whether Ferrari had established an effective framework for dealing with direct battles between its drivers.
The FIA subsequently explained the reasoning behind Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty, which became one of the defining elements of the controversy.
For McEvoy, the sporting disagreement also raised a wider concern: allowing individual ambitions to take precedence over Ferrari’s collective interests could create further difficulties if similar situations are not managed more clearly.
Daily Mail reports tense Ferrari debrief following Mexico controversy
One of the more significant claims in Jonathan McEvoy’s column concerns what reportedly happened inside Ferrari after the race.
The Daily Mail journalist indicated that he had learned of a particularly tense post-race debrief, during which disagreements between those involved allegedly became apparent.
That account comes from the British newspaper and has not been independently confirmed. However, the public reactions of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had already demonstrated that the drivers held different views about their confrontation.
Following the Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton called for discussions within Ferrari to address what had happened and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring again. The seven-time world champion believed the team’s opportunity to fight for victory had been compromised by the battle.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, maintained that he was entitled to fight for the win, while also accepting that the stewards’ punishment for his manoeuvre was fair.
The differing reactions highlighted the challenge facing the Scuderia: maintaining healthy competition between its drivers without allowing their individual disagreements to undermine the team’s sporting objectives.
Lewis Hamilton’s request for internal discussions following the Mexican Grand Prix has made that question particularly relevant.
Jonathan McEvoy warns Ferrari rivalry could develop into a deeper rift
Jonathan McEvoy’s criticism also extended to the potential consequences of leaving the disagreement unresolved.
In the journalist’s view, Ferrari risks allowing the rivalry between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to develop into a much more serious internal conflict if clear boundaries are not established.
His warning reflects an assessment of the team’s situation rather than confirmation of an irreparable division within Ferrari. Nevertheless, the suggestion of a deeper rift adds to the scrutiny already surrounding the Maranello team’s management.
The issue is not simply whether both drivers should be permitted to race each other. It also concerns how Ferrari responds when their battles create penalties, lost positions or disagreements about the team’s priorities.
Team principal Fred Vasseur has already faced questions about the situation, with the French manager emphasising the importance of respect following the Mexican Grand Prix confrontation.
With the Brazilian Grand Prix approaching, Ferrari must once again consider how to balance the ambitions of its two drivers while protecting the interests of the team.
The Daily Mail’s criticism has increased the attention surrounding Charles Leclerc, but the wider challenge extends to the entire Scuderia. After a race in which an internal battle contributed to a missed opportunity, Ferrari will be determined to avoid another controversy that compromises its results.
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