Ferrari’s tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have reached a different stage, according to former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Ivan Capelli, who believes the latest controversy following the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix is part of a much longer-running rivalry. Speaking during a Sky Sport F1 analysis, Ivan Capelli questioned why Lewis Hamilton chose to revisit the disagreement publicly four days after the race, suggesting that previous discussions between the teammates may not have been enough to settle their differences.
Rather than viewing the Mexico incident as an isolated disagreement, Ivan Capelli pointed to a series of confrontations between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. These have included close encounters on track and exchanges of comments after races. What makes the latest episode particularly significant, in his view, is that the controversy continued well beyond the immediate emotions of the Grand Prix.
Ivan Capelli explains why Ferrari’s Hamilton-Leclerc tensions have escalated
During his appearance on Sky Sport F1, Ivan Capelli argued that the relationship between Ferrari’s two drivers must be understood in the context of their previous disagreements rather than simply through what happened at the Mexican Grand Prix.
“I think what we’re seeing is the evolution of a situation that has developed throughout the season. There have already been moments of tension between Hamilton and Leclerc, close encounters on track and a few verbal exchanges outside the cockpit as well,” the former Ferrari driver explained.
“Until now, however, these episodes were mainly linked to the heat of the race, with comments made in the immediate aftermath that did not subsequently lead to any particular developments.”
Ivan Capelli’s assessment places the latest disagreement within a broader pattern of friction between the Ferrari teammates. Previous incidents had generally faded after the initial post-race reactions, but Lewis Hamilton’s decision to raise the issue again has given the Mexico controversy a different dimension.
Monza incident highlighted as an earlier warning sign for Ferrari
Ivan Capelli also recalled the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had already made contact during the season. He described that encounter as an earlier example of the tensions that have occasionally emerged between the two Ferrari drivers.
“Think, for example, about what happened at Monza, where there had already been an initial contact between the two. On that occasion as well, the matter remained essentially confined to the aftermath of the race.”
The comparison is important because it highlights how differently the two incidents developed. While the Monza disagreement did not produce a prolonged public controversy, the aftermath of the Mexican Grand Prix continued to attract attention several days later.
The competitive relationship between the teammates can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton head-to-head statistics, which track their performances across the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton’s comments four days after Mexico raise questions about previous discussions
For Ivan Capelli, the most revealing aspect of the latest Ferrari controversy is not simply the on-track confrontation, but Lewis Hamilton’s decision to return to the subject four days after the Mexican Grand Prix had ended.
“This time, Hamilton has added a different element, because evidently the previous discussions were not enough to fully clarify their relationship or establish how to deal with certain situations on track.”
“The fact that he returned to the incident so firmly, even four days after the conclusion of the Mexican Grand Prix, is what makes this affair different from the others.”
“We are no longer simply dealing with a driver’s immediate reaction after a battle with his teammate, but with an issue that continues to be raised even several days later.”
Ivan Capelli therefore sees the renewed discussion as a possible indication that the earlier attempts to address the disagreements had not fully resolved the underlying questions surrounding how Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc should race each other.
The situation has also prompted wider discussion about the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc within Ferrari, with their on-track rivalry becoming an increasingly prominent subject of debate.
Although Ivan Capelli’s comments reflect concerns about the situation following Mexico, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur subsequently offered a more positive assessment. Following discussions during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Fred Vasseur confirmed that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had cleared the air, describing a constructive meeting between the two drivers.
Ivan Capelli’s analysis nevertheless highlights why the Mexico controversy attracted more attention than Ferrari’s earlier on-track disagreements. The central issue was no longer simply what happened between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during a Grand Prix, but why the dispute continued to be discussed several days afterwards and whether the team’s previous conversations had adequately addressed the situation.
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