Lewis Hamilton has accused the Formula 1 stewards of effectively handing Charles Leclerc victory at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, escalating his criticism of the decision to punish his Ferrari teammate with a five-second penalty following their controversial opening-lap battle. The seven-time world champion also referred to an agreement discussed during the drivers’ briefing, making clear that he remained deeply dissatisfied with how the incident had been handled.
The latest radio message followed an increasingly tense sequence of events for Ferrari, beginning when Leclerc overtook Hamilton during their first-lap fight and subsequently established himself at the front of the race. Although the stewards investigated the manoeuvre and imposed a five-second penalty on the Monegasque, Hamilton had already argued that the sanction failed to address the advantage his teammate continued to enjoy.
Lewis Hamilton accuses F1 stewards of handing Charles Leclerc Mexico GP victory
Hamilton’s latest comments represented his strongest criticism yet of the stewards’ handling of the opening-lap confrontation. Speaking over Ferrari team radio, the British driver suggested that the decision was effectively allowing Leclerc to retain an advantage that could determine the outcome of the Grand Prix.
“The stewards are basically handing Charles this win.”
Hamilton then added a reference to the pre-race discussions between the drivers, indicating that he believed the circumstances of the incident should be considered in light of what had been agreed beforehand.
“We agreed in the drivers’ briefing.”
The two statements underlined Hamilton’s continuing dissatisfaction with the situation. Rather than focusing exclusively on his teammate’s actions, the seven-time world champion was now directly questioning the consequences of the stewards’ decision.
His reference to the drivers’ briefing also introduced another dimension to the controversy, suggesting that he considered the opening-lap incident relevant to an agreement made before the race. However, Hamilton did not specify the exact wording or subject of that agreement in the radio message.
Ferrari opening-lap battle continues to cause controversy
The disagreement originated during the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix, when Ferrari’s two drivers fought for the lead after starting from first and third on the grid.
Hamilton had secured pole position and initially maintained his advantage following a strong getaway. George Russell’s difficult start allowed Leclerc to move into contention, and the Ferrari teammates subsequently ran alongside each other through the opening sequence of corners.
The decisive exchange occurred at Turn 4, where Leclerc moved ahead following their close battle. The Monegasque went across the grass during the manoeuvre, while Hamilton lost momentum and was subsequently overtaken by Max Verstappen.
Having started from pole, Hamilton found himself third behind his teammate and the Red Bull driver. The British driver immediately expressed frustration over the radio, complaining that he had been pushed out by his own teammate.
The incident attracted the attention of the stewards, who subsequently issued Leclerc a five-second penalty on lap 13 of the 71-lap race. The sanction was to be served at his first pit stop, with Ferrari required to wait before beginning the tyre change.
Why Hamilton believes Leclerc’s five-second penalty is insufficient
Hamilton had already challenged the effectiveness of the penalty after learning of the decision on lap 16. His concern centred on the advantage Leclerc was continuing to enjoy by running at the front in clean air.
The seven-time world champion argued that his teammate did not face the same race-management difficulties as the drivers following other cars. In Hamilton’s view, serving an additional five seconds during a pit stop did not necessarily compensate for the benefits gained by retaining the lead beforehand.
He therefore argued that Leclerc should return the positions gained during the opening-lap incident rather than simply accept the time penalty.
The gap between the Ferrari drivers had subsequently grown to 7.2 seconds, according to an observation from Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok. That development made a potential position exchange increasingly difficult, particularly with Verstappen also involved in the fight at the front.
Chandhok suggested that Ferrari might instead concentrate on helping Leclerc finish ahead of Verstappen before addressing the disagreement between its drivers after the race.
Drivers’ briefing reference adds another question for Ferrari
Hamilton’s latest comments now place additional attention on the discussions held before the Grand Prix. By referring to an agreement reached during the drivers’ briefing, the Ferrari driver indicated that his criticism extended beyond the immediate consequences of losing positions.
However, the precise agreement he was referencing remains unclear. His radio message did not identify a specific regulation, instruction or interpretation agreed by the drivers, nor did it establish that the stewards had disregarded such an agreement.
What is clear is that Hamilton believes the punishment imposed on Leclerc has not adequately addressed the competitive consequences of their opening-lap confrontation.
For Ferrari, the situation is especially uncomfortable because the team had entered the race with an excellent opportunity after producing its strongest qualifying performance of the season. Hamilton’s pole position and Leclerc’s third place had placed both drivers in contention for victory, but their opening-lap battle created an opportunity for Verstappen and triggered a dispute that has continued throughout the race.
The latest radio message illustrates how far that frustration has developed. Hamilton is no longer simply questioning his teammate’s manoeuvre or calling for positions to be returned. He is openly challenging the stewards’ handling of the incident and suggesting that the decision could influence who wins the Mexico City Grand Prix.
With Leclerc’s five-second penalty already confirmed, the remaining question is whether its effect on the race will address Hamilton’s concerns or leave Ferrari facing an even more difficult discussion between its drivers after the chequered flag.
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