Leclerc explains Hamilton collision, but Vasseur isn't buying it

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc pointed to the circuit configuration as the primary reason for his opening-lap collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton at Formula 1's Mexico City Grand Prix. Leclerc argued that a barrier on the exit of Turn 4 would have prevented such an outcome.

The Scuderia threw away a prime opportunity for a one-two finish at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday. Hamilton lined up on pole, while Leclerc surged past George Russell off the line into second. Leclerc then attacked Hamilton around the outside of Turn 1 to claim the inside line for the following corner, but the seven-time world champion held onto the lead.

At Turn 4, Leclerc launched another attempt around the outside, resulting in both drivers blowing past their braking markers. That sent the Monegasque across the grass and over Turn 5 into the lead, while Max Verstappen took full advantage of the chaos to slip past Hamilton.

Leclerc was subsequently hit with a five-second time penalty, dropping him to fourth. A frustrated Hamilton took second behind race winner Verstappen, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli came home third to secure the world championship.

Leclerc's remarks reflect the recurring chaos at the start in Mexico, which prompted the stewards to crack down with stricter rules. Under revised guidelines for race starts and restarts, drivers face penalties if they cut the track through the Turn 1–3 or Turn 4–6 complexes and gain an advantage.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, however, firmly dismissed the idea that the circuit layout was to blame for the squandered victory, though he conceded the consequences would have been far more severe in Monaco. The Frenchman made no secret of his disappointment after missing out on a third win of 2026.