Hamilton calls for Ferrari talks after Mexico battle hands Verstappen opening

Lewis Hamilton has called for internal discussions at Ferrari after his opening-lap battle with Charles Leclerc in the Mexico City Grand Prix. According to BBC Sport, Hamilton blamed the encounter for a missed victory and said the team needed to change how its drivers race each other when competing at the front.

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Leclerc took the lead after cutting a chicane, while Hamilton subsequently lost second place to Max Verstappen. Hamilton argued that holding their positions would have allowed Ferrari to run first and second. That was his assessment of an opportunity lost, rather than a guarantee of how the race would have finished.

Leclerc defended his decision to retain the lead, saying both Ferrari drivers had missed the corner and pointing to Hamilton pushing him wide at Turn One. BBC Sport also reported that team principal Frederic Vasseur expressed frustration and planned discussions. Hamilton said Ferrari had no agreed rules governing such battles between its drivers.

Formula 1's official website reported that Verstappen converted fifth on the grid into his third victory of the season. He reached third at the start before taking advantage of the Ferraris' excursion to move into second. Leclerc received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, a sanction that subsequently shaped the fight for the lead.

Red Bull brought Verstappen into the pits alongside Leclerc, allowing the Dutchman to move ahead while the Ferrari driver served his penalty. Verstappen credited that strategy and his strong start for putting him in position to win. He then resisted Hamilton's pressure, finishing just 0.799 seconds ahead after a contest in which he said mistakes were unaffordable.

The official F1 report said Hamilton challenged Verstappen at both restarts, following Valtteri Bottas' suspension failure and a later crash involving Arvid Lindblad after contact with Oscar Piastri. The result left Verstappen two points ahead of Hamilton in the contest for second in the drivers' standings, while Kimi Antonelli secured his first world championship.