Ferrari team principal calls Mexico incident a lack of respect after drivers' clash costs win

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur criticised the opening-lap incident between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the Mexican Grand Prix, saying it demonstrated a lack of respect for the staff who had worked to make the car competitive. The clash, which saw Leclerc cut across the track between Turns 4 and 5 and Hamilton run wide, allowed Max Verstappen and Red Bull to take the victory despite Ferrari starting the race in a 1-2 position.

"I'm having trouble swallowing it. It's a lack of respect for all the people who work. Wasting a victory is hard. It's stuck in my throat. They're not racing for themselves," Vasseur told Canal+ after the race.

Vasseur added that the incident reflected drivers putting personal ambition ahead of the team’s goals. In Ferrari’s post-race statement he emphasized the need for respect for the brand, partners and the roughly 2,000 employees at the factory.

Lewis Hamilton echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that both drivers could have coordinated better.

"Every decision you make in the car impacts all the people that work in the background for the whole team. It's a shame to see us lose as we did," Hamilton said.

Vasseur said he will meet with the drivers before the Brazilian Grand Prix to address the issue and prevent a repeat. He indicated that the short interval before the next race provides an opportunity to resolve the matter quickly.

Leclerc downplayed the need for a major discussion, while Hamilton expressed uncertainty about the appropriate next steps, noting that a “real deep, serious conversation” is required. Both drivers agreed that changes are needed to avoid similar incidents in future races.