Should Charles Leclerc have let Lewis Hamilton pass after the first-corner clash at the Mexican GP?. Charles Leclerc’s first-corner clash with Lewis Hamilton at the 2025 Mexican GP sparked controversy.

Did Charles Leclerc have to give back the position to Lewis Hamilton after the contact at the first corner of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix? The situation seems quite clear, according to recent analysis.

The Monegasque Ferrari driver cut corner 1 alongside Max Verstappen, but at the apex, Lewis Hamilton was ahead. This incident caused considerable confusion, leaving many fans and commentators questioning whether Charles Leclerc should have returned the position immediately after the clash. Here is a clear assessment of the situation.

Hamilton’s race was heavily influenced by the opening-lap battles. Leclerc, after running straight and only yielding the position to Lando Norris later, effectively compromised his teammate’s race. At the apex, Hamilton was ahead, meaning he should have retained second position—but Charles Leclerc stayed in front. Lewis Hamilton repeatedly called over the radio to have the position restored. This sequence ultimately led to his fight with Verstappen, during which he cut the chicane at turns 4 and 5, receiving a time penalty for the advantage gained. Matteo Bobbi, Sky Sport F1 analyst, has no doubts about what happened at the start.

Bobbi: “This was not entirely fair”

Bobbi stated: “Leclerc’s start was not brilliant, and then in the three-way tussle, he closed in on Hamilton and moved towards Verstappen, who had no choice but to brake hard on the curb. Charles and Lewis made contact, but at that point Hamilton had the better line, slightly ahead at the apex. When Leclerc cut turn 2, he could have easily realigned with Lewis instead of staying in front. He let Norris pass, but not Lewis, and this was not entirely fair. I fully understand his nervousness. It’s a borderline situation, but Lewis was right to seek clarity. In such a tense race, even a small detail like this can change everything.” – the Sky Sport analyst pointed out at the end of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Team dynamics and season implications

Unsurprisingly, Lewis Hamilton also expressed his frustration with several FIA decisions. As Matteo Bobbi often notes, the teammate is the first real competitor. In this instance, Charles Leclerc played it smart, knowing that in Formula 1, if you want to achieve something, you sometimes have to take it by force. The Monegasque is fully aware of who he is competing against, and securing his seventh podium of the season helps reinforce his leadership status heading into 2026. It should be noted that only now is Hamilton beginning to close the gap to his Ferrari teammate, so it cannot be said that his season has fully met expectations.