Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz has questioned why Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were unable to work together during the opening stages of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, arguing that Ferrari’s failure to keep its rivals behind was a more important issue than the immediate consequences of the teammates’ first-lap battle.
The criticism came after a dramatic start in which Hamilton, who had secured pole position, lost the lead to Charles Leclerc before Max Verstappen moved ahead of the seven-time world champion. With the Ferrari drivers having started first and third, their battle created an opportunity for Red Bull to become involved at the front rather than leaving the Scuderia with both cars ahead of its rivals.
Ted Kravitz questions Ferrari teamwork after Mexico GP incident
During Sky Sports F1’s coverage, Ted Kravitz raised concerns about the way Ferrari had handled the situation, directing attention towards the relationship between its two drivers and the team’s ability to manage their competitive interests.
The commentator noted that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was speaking with his sporting director, but suggested that the discussion did not address what he considered the central problem.
“Fred Vasseur is talking to his sporting director but that ignores the bigger point, why can’t they work together? Why didn’t they work together?” Ted Kravitz asked.
He then expanded on his criticism, questioning why the Maranello team had not been able to use the combined strength of its two drivers to prevent rival cars from entering the battle.
“What’s going on at Ferrari that they just can’t work together to exclude the others?”
His remarks focused on the wider implications of Ferrari’s opening-lap contest rather than solely on which driver was responsible for the incident. The fundamental question was whether the team could have approached the start in a way that better protected its competitive position.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc battle opens door for Max Verstappen
The incident followed an opening lap in which Ferrari initially appeared well placed to capitalise on its qualifying performance. Hamilton made a strong start from pole position, while Leclerc moved into contention after George Russell struggled to get away cleanly.
The two Ferrari drivers ran alongside each other through the opening sequence, with Hamilton initially maintaining his advantage. However, Leclerc moved ahead at Turn 4 after their battle took him across the grass.
Hamilton subsequently lost momentum, allowing Max Verstappen to move into second place. What had begun as a promising opportunity for Ferrari to occupy the leading positions instead left the Red Bull driver between its two cars.
The seven-time world champion also expressed frustration over team radio, complaining that he had been pushed out by his own teammate. The opening-lap incident subsequently came under investigation by the stewards.
For Kravitz, the circumstances raised a broader question about teamwork. Ferrari had two drivers capable of fighting at the front, but their direct battle had also created an opening for a rival to benefit.
Fred Vasseur faces Ferrari team-management questions
The situation placed attention on Fred Vasseur and the challenge of balancing the ambitions of two competitive drivers. Both Hamilton and Leclerc had legitimate reasons to pursue the lead, particularly after qualifying had demonstrated the strength of the SF-26 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
However, the opening-lap developments illustrated how a fight between teammates can influence the wider race. While Leclerc emerged ahead, Hamilton’s loss of momentum allowed Verstappen to gain a position, changing the order among the leading contenders.
Kravitz’s comments were therefore not simply a criticism of two drivers racing each other. They questioned whether Ferrari had been able to maximise its collective advantage at a moment when the team had an opportunity to keep its rivals behind.
The remarks do not establish whether Ferrari had issued specific instructions about the start or whether either driver had failed to follow an agreed approach. They nevertheless highlight the difficulty of managing two drivers who are both competing for victory.
Ferrari’s Mexico GP opportunity complicated by teammate rivalry
Ferrari’s strong qualifying performance had created an opportunity to challenge for victory from the front of the grid. Lewis Hamilton’s pole position and Charles Leclerc’s third place meant the Scuderia entered the race with both drivers in contention from the opening corners.
Yet their battle quickly changed the situation. Leclerc took the lead, but Verstappen’s promotion to second prevented Ferrari from maintaining the advantage of having both cars ahead of the Red Bull.
That outcome formed the basis of Ted Kravitz’s criticism. Rather than concentrating exclusively on the investigation or the disagreement between the drivers, he questioned why Ferrari had not managed to work together in a way that reduced the threat from its competitors.
For Fred Vasseur, the challenge extends beyond resolving the immediate controversy. Ferrari must balance its drivers’ freedom to race with the opportunity to maximise the team’s overall performance, particularly when both cars are competitive enough to fight for the lead.
The opening stages in Mexico demonstrated how quickly those priorities can come into conflict. Ferrari had the pace and starting positions to challenge at the front, but the battle between Hamilton and Leclerc gave Verstappen an opportunity that the Scuderia would have preferred to avoid.
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