Lewis Hamilton is reportedly struggling to win over people within Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc is said to be furious following their controversial clash at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Fresh reports suggest that relations between the two drivers have deteriorated dramatically, with claims of growing internal tensions, a difficult atmosphere at Maranello and an increasingly complicated situation for team principal Fred Vasseur.
Ferrari is still recovering from the disappointment of Mexico, where a victory appeared almost certain and a one-two finish seemed a realistic possibility given the pace the team had demonstrated throughout the weekend. Instead, the battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton contributed to a missed opportunity and has reportedly left the Scuderia facing an extremely tense situation behind the scenes.
Within Maranello, the atmosphere between the drivers is said to be increasingly unstable, with their relationship appearing difficult to repair after Mexico. Their on-track confrontation and Lewis Hamilton’s subsequent comments about Charles Leclerc have fuelled a dispute that may not be easily resolved. The two drivers are portrayed as strong personalities competing for influence, with Fred Vasseur attempting to hold the situation together despite reports that meaningful communication between them has broken down.
The uncertainty creates further difficulties for Ferrari, particularly as the team looks ahead to the 2027 Formula 1 season and the challenge of managing two drivers with considerable ambitions of their own.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc tensions reportedly reach breaking point at Ferrari
Writing in Corriere della Sera, journalist Daniele Sparisci revealed claims of a particularly tense atmosphere within Ferrari following the opening-lap battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Mexico.
“On Sunday evening, Ferrari held a tense debriefing following the duel between Leclerc and Hamilton at the start. The Dream Team, assembled in 2025 to win everything (two victories and two pole positions across two seasons), is on the verge of imploding, if it has not already imploded. Looking back now at the fairy tale of their idyllic relationship almost makes you smile. Leclerc and Hamilton cannot stand each other, just like others before them. The battle for internal leadership produced a spectacular own goal at the start, when the Monegasque attacked the Briton. The two got in each other’s way and handed victory to Verstappen. It had already happened at Monza, but this time it is more serious. Both because of the scale of the wasted opportunity and the poisonous atmosphere that will linger. Hamilton attacked Leclerc with unprecedented harshness.”
According to Daniele Sparisci’s account, the relationship between the Ferrari teammates may now have reached a critical point. The events in Mexico, combined with the public criticism that followed, have intensified questions about whether Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can continue working together effectively.
The dispute over Ferrari’s lost Mexico GP victory opportunity has also brought the drivers’ differing approaches into focus, with Lewis Hamilton expressing frustration over the decisions made during their opening-lap confrontation.
Lewis Hamilton reportedly not well liked within Ferrari
Beyond the tensions between the drivers, fresh claims suggest that Lewis Hamilton’s behaviour and approach to internal politics have not been particularly well received by some people at Maranello.
During a recent AutoRacer.it live broadcast, journalist Piergiuseppe Donadoni discussed what he understands about the seven-time world champion’s standing within Ferrari and how his behaviour is perceived by team personnel.
“From what I know, Hamilton is not very well liked within Ferrari. His behaviour is almost the opposite of what the employees and engineers expect. The way he behaves has not exactly made him popular. There is no preference for Hamilton over Leclerc, and I challenge anyone with inside information to say otherwise. Hamilton knows how to play politics very well. For years, he had the support of the media, particularly the British press, which backed him strongly. That is how he managed to push certain narratives.”
These remarks present a very different picture from the expectations surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari. Rather than enjoying any preferential treatment over Charles Leclerc, the British driver is portrayed as facing difficulties in gaining internal support.
However, the comments remain the assessment of Piergiuseppe Donadoni, rather than an official statement from Ferrari or its employees.
The growing controversy also places additional pressure on Fred Vasseur to manage the relationship between his drivers after a Grand Prix in which their rivalry contributed to Ferrari missing out on a potential victory.
Claims of political manoeuvring involving Lewis Hamilton and John Elkann
Further allegations suggest that Lewis Hamilton is seeking to increase his political influence within Ferrari by using public statements and media coverage to shape perceptions of the team’s internal situation.
There are also suggestions that the seven-time world champion has been drawing closer to Ferrari chairman John Elkann, with his approach interpreted as an attempt to gain greater control or influence over the team’s direction.
Piergiuseppe Donadoni continued with a particularly strong assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s political abilities, referring to the British driver’s previous rivalry with Fernando Alonso.
“He is a master of politics. He played politics against Alonso and destroyed him politically that season. I know that Leclerc is very, very pissed off. According to reports, the relationship between the two drivers is now ruined: even if the media portray them as close friends, they are not, and they will not be for as long as they remain in the team.”
The claims suggest that Charles Leclerc is deeply unhappy with the present situation and that the public image of harmony between Ferrari’s drivers may no longer reflect their actual relationship.
Questions about the two drivers’ future together have consequently become more significant, particularly given the implications of their rivalry for Ferrari’s preparations for 2027.
Following the Mexico controversy, Ferrari now faces the challenge of addressing both the sporting consequences of its drivers’ on-track battles and the reported tensions developing away from the circuit. Whether Fred Vasseur can restore a productive working relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc remains an important question for the Scuderia.
The differing performances of the two drivers across the season can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc versus Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, although the reported internal disagreements extend well beyond their results on the track.
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