Ferrari reportedly held a tense debrief following the controversial opening-lap confrontation between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera describing an increasingly volatile atmosphere inside the Maranello team. According to the report, the rivalry between the two drivers has created serious internal tensions after Ferrari squandered an opportunity to win a race in which its SF-26 appeared to be comfortably the strongest car.
The situation has become particularly delicate for Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who was left deeply disappointed by the behaviour of both drivers following their confrontation in Mexico. With the Scuderia’s ambitious partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc now under growing scrutiny, the latest developments raise further questions about how Ferrari intends to manage the relationship between its two stars.
Ferrari reportedly holds tense debrief after Hamilton-Leclerc Mexico GP clash
Following the Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur made it clear that discussions would be necessary to address what had happened between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
“We’ll talk privately, with four of us, if not six,” the French manager said after the race, expressing his disappointment with the conduct of both drivers.
The confrontation was particularly frustrating because Ferrari had arrived in Mexico with an SF-26 that appeared to be comfortably the fastest car on the circuit. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had the machinery to fight for victory, but their opening-lap battle ultimately contributed to the team losing the opportunity.
Instead, Max Verstappen capitalised on the situation to secure victory for Red Bull. The Dutch driver delivered a flawless and ruthless performance, while his team’s pit wall made the most of the five-second penalty imposed on Charles Leclerc after the Monegasque deliberately cut the circuit to take the lead.
The sanction proved decisive during the pit-stop phase, when Red Bull exploited the delay to move Max Verstappen ahead. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the FIA’s explanation of Charles Leclerc’s five-second penalty have since become central to the debate over Ferrari’s missed opportunity.
Corriere della Sera warns Ferrari’s dream partnership is close to implosion
According to Corriere della Sera, the atmosphere within Ferrari has become extremely heated following the events of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Repairing the damage will not be straightforward, particularly because both drivers contributed to the controversy in different ways.
Charles Leclerc’s actions on the circuit were a major factor in the confrontation, while Lewis Hamilton’s comments over team radio and during the post-race press conference further increased tensions.
In an assessment published by journalist Daniele Sparisci, the Italian newspaper described a particularly difficult situation for Ferrari’s high-profile driver pairing.
“On Sunday evening, a tense debrief took place at Ferrari following the duel between Leclerc and Hamilton at the start,” Daniele Sparisci wrote.
“The Dream Team, assembled in 2025 to win everything (two victories and two pole positions across two seasons), is on the verge of implosion, if it hasn’t already imploded.”
The report presents the internal battle for supremacy as a central factor behind Ferrari’s problems. Rather than working together to convert the team’s competitive advantage into victory, the two drivers became embroiled in a confrontation that ultimately benefited their closest rival.
“The battle for internal leadership produced a sensational own goal at the start, when the Monegasque attacked the Briton. The two got in each other’s way, handing victory to Verstappen.”
The newspaper’s assessment reflects growing concerns about Ferrari’s internal rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and the potential consequences if the relationship between the teammates continues to deteriorate.
Ferrari’s Mexico GP controversy revives memories of Monza
The confrontation in Mexico was not the first occasion on which Ferrari’s two drivers had become involved in a damaging battle. Similar tensions had already emerged during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, making the latest incident particularly concerning.
For Corriere della Sera, however, the events in Mexico represent a more serious episode because of both the sporting opportunity lost and the potential damage to the relationship within the team.
“It had already happened at Monza, but this time it is more serious. Because of the scale of the wasted opportunity and the poisonous after-effects that will linger.”
The comparison with Monza highlights the recurring nature of Ferrari’s difficulties in managing its drivers when they find themselves competing directly against each other. The similarities between Ferrari’s confrontations at Monza and Mexico have already prompted questions about whether the Scuderia needs clearer rules to protect its collective interests.
What makes the latest episode especially significant is that Ferrari appeared to possess the performance advantage necessary to secure victory. Instead, the opening-lap battle and its subsequent consequences allowed Max Verstappen and Red Bull to take advantage.
Fred Vasseur faces difficult task of restoring Ferrari unity
The immediate challenge for Fred Vasseur is to address the fallout from the Mexican Grand Prix and restore a more constructive relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Both drivers have their own grievances following the incident. Charles Leclerc’s aggressive manoeuvre and subsequent penalty proved costly, while Lewis Hamilton’s public criticism added another layer of complexity to the situation.
The seven-time world champion has already called for discussions within Ferrari following the Mexico City controversy, reinforcing the importance of resolving the disagreement before it causes further problems.
For the Maranello team, the central issue extends beyond a single missed victory. The rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has become an increasingly prominent part of Ferrari’s 2026 campaign, and the reported tensions suggest that managing the two drivers could prove an important challenge going forward.
While Corriere della Sera’s description of a team approaching implosion remains the newspaper’s assessment rather than confirmation of an irreparable breakdown, the reported debrief underlines the seriousness of the situation.
Fred Vasseur must now find a way to move beyond the events in Mexico and prevent the internal competition between Ferrari’s drivers from undermining further opportunities on the circuit.
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