Charles Leclerc responds to race teammates harder accusation levelled by Hamilton
There were Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fireworks in Mexico
Charles Leclerc claims his scuffle with Lewis Hamilton in Mexico took on “proportions that are way too big”, but it was something that needed to be settled.
The Ferrari teammates clashed on the opening lap of the Mexican Grand Prix, with Hamilton fuming at Leclerc for “working against” him.
Charles Leclerc explains why Ferrari’s Hamilton disagreement needed to be settled
The seven-time world champion’s criticism of Leclerc continued at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he doubled down on his claim that the Monegasque driver races his teammates harder than the rest of the field.
Having called out what he saw as Leclerc’s “do or die” attitude in Mexico, Hamilton told the media in Brazil: “[He] definitely [races against them] different.
“If you look at the teammates, it’s the same with Sebastian [Vettel], it’s the same with Carlos [Sainz].”
The Ferrari teammates hashed out their grievances during a sit-down with team principal Fred Vasseur on Thursday night in Sao Paulo.
Hamilton, despite only hours before reiterating his claim that Leclerc was to blame for Ferrari losing the win in Mexico, said of that conversation: “We sat and spoke, and we squashed it, and we’re moving on.
“I think we still have a huge amount of respect for each other, and I’m glad we had a chat. Now we move on.”
Leclerc too insisted that the air had been cleared.
“From my perspective, I was very straightforward,” he said. “It was good to speak. This is always needed after a moment like this.
“I think it took on proportions that are way too big, but it has been around for way too long.
“At the same time, it was a very special week for me, so I couldn’t really have those discussions before.
“It was important to have those discussions, but now I consider that a closed chapter, and I think it would be important to look ahead.”
However, when quizzed on Hamilton’s claim that he races his teammates harder than the rest of the field, Leclerc baulked at answering that.
“I wouldn’t want to comment that,” he said. “Honestly, there’s been way too many comments, and again, way too much fuss about it for way too long.
“I don’t really want to get into those kind of comments.”
The Ferrari driver reckons the Mexico City Grand Prix clash has been blown out of proportion – for whatever reason.
The situation wasn’t helped by the fact that he and Hamilton weren’t able to iron it out in the immediate aftermath as Leclerc hurried home for the birth of his daughter.
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“I really believe that when we speak, things are much better straight away,” Leclerc said.
“Of course there is tension. Of course, we want to finish ahead of each other, and sometimes we are not going to do things right.
“It’s okay sometimes to disagree on the way you see things.
“But at the same time, discussing about those [things] helps a whole lot.”
He added: “History speaks for itself, and maybe yeah, looking back, it’s maybe something needed. At the same time, as I said, sometimes you disagree and you’ve got to find a common ground.”
Asked if the drama had become bigger than it was, he replied: “I do believe that it stayed much longer than it should have, yes.”
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