Sports · Motorsport · 47 mins ago
Ferrari loses Mexico win after Leclerc and Hamilton clash
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton started first and second at the Mexican Grand Prix.
They went side-by-side into the first corner, then both went off track at turn four.
Leclerc ended the opening lap in the lead, while Hamilton fell to third behind Max Verstappen.
Leclerc received a time penalty for going off track, and Verstappen went on to win.
Hamilton blamed Leclerc's aggressive move, while Leclerc said giving up his place would have let Verstappen through.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said the team had thrown away a winning position and would discuss the drivers' comments with each of them.
Max Verstappen won the Mexico City Grand Prix after Ferrari lost its early lead in a clash between team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton and Leclerc ran off track while contesting the lead on the opening lap, and Verstappen moved ahead of Hamilton.
Leclerc received a five-second penalty for gaining a lasting advantage by cutting Turn 5.
Verstappen passed Leclerc during pit stops and held off Hamilton to secure his third victory of 2026.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the defeat was frustrating and called for respect for the team and its workers.
- Who
- Max Verstappen won the race for Red Bull; Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were Ferrari’s drivers involved in the clash.
- What
- Ferrari lost its early lead after Hamilton and Leclerc ran off track while fighting for position. Verstappen went on to win.
- When
- The Mexico City Grand Prix took place on 1 November 2026.
- Where
- Mexico City, Mexico.
- Why
- The Ferrari drivers’ opening-lap battle compromised their positions, and Leclerc received a five-second penalty. Verstappen also benefited from Red Bull’s pit-stop strategy.
Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc
Responsibility for Ferrari’s defeat
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton blamed Leclerc’s forceful first-lap attack for costing Ferrari the victory.
Charles Leclerc
Leclerc said he did not give the position back because doing so would have let Verstappen past.
Handling the first-lap incident
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton said the incident cost Ferrari its chance to win.
Charles Leclerc
Leclerc partly blamed the track layout and its limits and grey areas.
Lewis Hamilton took pole for Ferrari, while Verstappen qualified fourth and started fifth after a one-place penalty.
Hamilton and Leclerc ran off track while fighting for the lead, and Verstappen moved ahead of Hamilton.
Verstappen passed Leclerc during the pit stops while Leclerc served a five-second penalty.
Verstappen held off Hamilton to win, with Leclerc finishing fourth.
- Winner
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Ferrari pole-sitter
- Lewis Hamilton
- Leclerc penalty
- Five seconds
- Verstappen’s 2026 wins
- Three
- Ferrari workers cited by Vasseur
- 2,000
7 sources
Vasseur says Ferrari’s lost Mexico City win ‘difficult to digest’
Max Verstappen fires dig at Ferrari after opportunistic Mexico GP win: "They made it difficult for themselves"
Vasseur accuses Ferrari drivers of lacking respect for the team following Mexico City fumble
Fred Vasseur reacts to Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc clash: “It’s a matter of respect”
“When you’re one-two you don’t imagine you will lose, and we did” – Vasseur | Formula 1
Max Verstappen blames Lando Norris for Mexican GP defeat: 'I couldn't believe my eyes'
What people are saying
They made it a little bit difficult for themselves, fighting each other, and that’s why I could capitalise on that.
When you are 1-2 at Turn 4, you don't imagine that you won't win the race.
I think it’s just a matter of respect.
Eventually we just need tracks that don't allow us to play with those kinds of limits and grey areas.