Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has expressed his anger with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after the Scuderia missed out on victory at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Despite having both cars in the leading two positions after the opening chicane, the Italian team eventually watched Max Verstappen take the win, leaving Vasseur furious about how a promising opportunity had slipped away.
Speaking to Canal+ after the race, the Ferrari boss made clear that his frustration extended beyond the disappointing result. He questioned whether his drivers had shown sufficient respect for the thousands of people working behind the scenes, insisting that their responsibility was to the entire team rather than their individual ambitions.
Fred Vasseur furious after Ferrari throws away Mexico GP victory
Ferrari appeared to be in an ideal position during the opening stages of the Mexican Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc occupying first and second place as they exited the opening chicane. However, Charles Leclerc’s attack on his teammate at Turn 4 triggered a sequence of events that ultimately allowed Max Verstappen to emerge victorious ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc.
The opening-lap confrontation proved particularly costly for Ferrari, which had entered the race with a significant opportunity to capitalise on its improved performance. The battle between the two drivers became one of the defining moments of the Grand Prix, turning an encouraging start into another missed opportunity.
Once again, Ferrari had to settle for second place as its best result, but this time Fred Vasseur did not attempt to conceal his disappointment when speaking to Canal+.
“It’s not the result we were hoping for, especially when we were first and second after the first corner,” Vasseur said. “In Mexico, I don’t remember an overtake for the win in the last 72 years, so I find it hard to accept that we finished the race in second and fourth positions.
“I think it’s a lack of respect towards the brand and towards all the people who work here, considering the effort we put in. We’ve made a real step forward in terms of performance, and I think throwing away a victory like this is difficult to accept.”
His disappointment was particularly significant given Ferrari’s recent progress. The team’s improvements to the SF-26 and the challenges posed by Mexico had already placed considerable attention on whether the Scuderia could convert its stronger pace into a victory.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc face criticism from Ferrari boss
Fred Vasseur’s frustration was directed at both Ferrari drivers, although he insisted that he was not interested in singling out either Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc for individual blame.
Instead, the French manager argued that the situation had become increasingly difficult to control and that both drivers needed to recognise the wider responsibility associated with representing Ferrari.
“I haven’t spoken to them yet. We’ll have time to meet face to face, or the three of us together, but right now I’m really angry,” Vasseur added.
“I’m not going to blame anyone in particular, but I think the situation is getting out of hand. I think we also need to keep in mind that we represent a brand, that we represent the sponsors, and that we have 2,000 people working behind us. The drivers must not race for themselves; they race for all these people.”
His comments followed a Grand Prix in which Ferrari’s battle for victory ended with Lewis Hamilton second and Charles Leclerc fourth. Having been in a position to challenge for the win, the team was left to reflect on how its drivers’ early confrontation had affected the final outcome.
The result also highlighted the difference between Ferrari’s qualifying potential and its ability to convert strong starting positions into victories. That broader trend can be explored through the team’s qualifying and race-performance statistics.
Fred Vasseur plans talks with Ferrari drivers before Brazilian GP
Despite his anger, Fred Vasseur made clear that Ferrari would address the situation internally rather than allow the disappointment to dominate the team’s preparations for the next race.
The team principal intends to speak directly with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to clarify what happened and ensure that everyone is aligned before the championship continues in Brazil.
“Tonight or tomorrow morning, we can sit down, talk about it, clear everything up, and then we’ll dive straight into Brazil. The best thing that could happen to us is being able to race again straight away,” Vasseur concluded.
For Ferrari, the immediate challenge is therefore not only to maintain the performance improvements that have brought the team closer to the front, but also to ensure that its two drivers can make the most of those opportunities together.
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