Lewis Hamilton has renewed his criticism of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, claiming the Monegasque is particularly aggressive when racing against him and drawing comparisons with his previous battles against Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. Speaking at Interlagos ahead of the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion admitted that he remains frustrated by their controversial encounter in Mexico and revealed that the team has not yet found time to discuss the incident internally.
The comments suggest that tensions within Ferrari have yet to subside following the Mexico City Grand Prix, where an opening-lap confrontation between the two drivers compromised their chances of securing a one-two finish. Despite the disappointment and the subsequent criticism from team principal Fred Vasseur, the disagreement remains unresolved as Formula 1 prepares for another race weekend.
Ferrari tensions continue after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc clash in Mexico
Ferrari returned from Mexico with an internal dispute that shows little sign of easing. The aggressive battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc under braking for Turn 4 ultimately proved costly for both drivers, effectively handing Max Verstappen an opportunity to take control of the race and claim victory.
The confrontation quickly developed into a public disagreement. Hamilton was particularly outspoken, first expressing his frustration over the team radio and subsequently criticising his team-mate when speaking to the media.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, defended his actions by emphasising that there had been no contact between the Ferrari cars and that both drivers were competing with the intention of winning the Grand Prix.
The different reactions of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton following the Mexico GP incident highlighted the growing disagreement over how the two should race each other.
Fred Vasseur subsequently criticised both drivers without distinction, accusing them of putting their personal ambitions ahead of Ferrari’s interests. The team principal’s intervention reflected his frustration that an opportunity to deliver a strong result had been compromised by an internal battle.
His demand for greater respect towards Ferrari following the Mexico controversy underlined the seriousness of the situation.
Lewis Hamilton admits he is still frustrated with Charles Leclerc
Speaking to journalists on Thursday at Interlagos, Lewis Hamilton made it clear that the disagreement has not been resolved. Having already been critical of Charles Leclerc in his post-race interviews and press conference in Mexico, the British driver went further in explaining his dissatisfaction.
“I’m frustrated. I’m still frustrated. We’ll talk about it when there’s time,” Hamilton explained.
The seven-time world champion also revealed why Ferrari had not yet held the discussions needed to address the incident, pointing to the different commitments of the people involved following the Mexican Grand Prix.
“Fred went back to Europe with the team. And obviously Charles is with his family. We had an opportunity to win for the team. We could easily have secured a one-two, so we need to work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
His comments confirm that the discussions Lewis Hamilton wants following Ferrari’s missed victory opportunity have not yet taken place.
For Hamilton, the frustration is not simply about losing a position to his team-mate. His concern centres on the consequences for Ferrari, which had the competitiveness to fight for the victory but ultimately failed to convert that opportunity into the result the team wanted.
Lewis Hamilton claims Charles Leclerc is more aggressive when racing him
The most pointed remarks came when Lewis Hamilton was asked directly whether he believes Charles Leclerc adopts a particularly aggressive approach when attacking him on the circuit.
The British driver answered without hesitation.
“Yes. I can’t say any more. In Singapore, he was wheel to wheel on the inside at Turn 1 with Max Verstappen and backed off. But if you look at his previous team-mates, he did the same with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz.”
By referring to the Singapore incident involving Max Verstappen, Hamilton drew a distinction between what he perceives as his team-mate’s approach when racing other drivers and the level of aggression he encounters when competing against him.
His mention of Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz also extended that criticism beyond the current Ferrari partnership. Hamilton suggested that Leclerc had displayed similar behaviour towards his previous team-mates, placing their present disagreement within a broader pattern of intra-team competition.
Those remarks represent a further escalation in the public disagreement between the two Ferrari drivers, particularly because Hamilton explicitly compared his own experience with the relationships Leclerc had with his predecessors at Maranello.
Ferrari faces unresolved driver tensions ahead of Brazilian Grand Prix
The situation leaves Ferrari preparing for the São Paulo Grand Prix with important discussions still outstanding. Although Fred Vasseur has already criticised the conduct of both drivers, the direct conversations intended to address their disagreement have yet to take place.
Lewis Hamilton’s latest comments suggest that the events in Mexico continue to weigh heavily on him, while Charles Leclerc has maintained that both drivers were fighting to win and that their cars did not make contact.
The wider Charles Leclerc versus Lewis Hamilton head-to-head battle provides additional context for a rivalry that has become increasingly prominent as Ferrari competes at the front of the field.
For now, the atmosphere within the Scuderia remains tense. With another Grand Prix approaching, Ferrari still needs to address the disagreement between its two drivers and determine how to prevent another costly confrontation on track.
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