Frédéric Vasseur, the French director of the Ferrari Formula 1 team, has condemned the incident involving his drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton during the opening laps of the Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday. Describing the event as a "lack of respect," Vasseur highlighted the severe consequences of the clash for the Scuderia's championship hopes.
The altercation occurred within the first three corners between Hamilton, who started from pole position, and Leclerc, who began third. The two drivers made wheel-to-wheel contact, forcing Leclerc onto the grass. As a result, Leclerc received a five-second penalty, which ultimately allowed Red Bull's Max Verstappen to secure the victory. Hamilton and Leclerc finished second and fourth respectively, squandering a potential one-two finish for Ferrari.
Vasseur stated that the outcome was difficult to accept, noting that overtaking is historically rare at the Mexico circuit. He emphasized that wasting a likely victory in such a manner felt like a disrespect to the brand, the employees, and the collective effort invested by the team. The director mentioned that while he has not yet spoken directly with the drivers, he intends to hold serious discussions involving all parties to address the situation.
In a statement reflecting his frustration, Vasseur reminded everyone that the team represents a major brand and sponsors, supported by 2,000 people working behind the scenes. He stressed that the drivers are not racing solely for themselves but for the entire organization.
Hamilton appeared visibly irritated on the podium and expressed bitterness over the radio during the race. The seven-time world champion acknowledged that while the team had the pace to win, the day did not go as planned, calling for serious internal discussions to resolve the issue. Leclerc admitted his mistake, stating that the penalty was clearly deserved as both drivers braked too late into the corner. He explained that his goal was to return the position to Hamilton, but Verstappen's intervention between them complicated the situation.
Sources: Le Figaro.