Lewis Hamilton criticized Ferrari’s approach to managing its drivers after his clash with Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday (6). The seven-time world champion rejected the idea that both drivers shared responsibility for the first-lap incident and said the situation highlighted a lack of clear rules within the team.
Starting fourth, Hamilton went down the inside at Turn 1 and emerged alongside Leclerc through the second part of the chicane. The Ferrari pair made contact, forcing Hamilton onto the gravel and costing him several positions.
Leclerc, who later retired after a heavy crash on the second lap, said after the race that the two drivers had “gone too far” in their battle. Hamilton, however, rejected the idea of shared responsibility and maintained that he was already ahead at Turn 2.
“I was ahead in Turn 2, by the apex, I was ahead. There was no ‘we’ in it,” Hamilton told reporters at Monza.
The Ferrari driver then pointed to his former team as an example of how intra-team racing can be managed more clearly.
“It comes down to rules of engagement. When I was at Mercedes, we had written rules of engagement. We never really, really had it too bad,” Hamilton said.
The Briton acknowledged that his Mercedes years also included intense battles with Nico Rosberg, particularly during their rivalry in 2016.
“There was a moment between me and Nico [Rosberg] a couple of times, but more often than not, it was good. Here, there are no rules. We need to address that,” Hamilton added.
The clash came one race after another Ferrari controversy involving Leclerc. At the Dutch Grand Prix, the Monegasque rejected a pit-call from Ferrari, a decision that ultimately affected Hamilton’s race and contributed to the Briton’s failure to finish on the podium.
Hamilton had already criticized Ferrari’s execution after qualifying fifth at Monza, despite believing the SF-26 had the pace for a stronger starting position.
The Briton eventually recovered from the first-lap incident to finish sixth at Ferrari’s home race. Leclerc, meanwhile, lost control at the Parabolica on lap two and crashed heavily, bringing out the red flag.
The result leaves Hamilton third in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship on 191 points, while championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli moved to 267 after winning at Monza. George Russell is second on 201.
Ferrari now faces the task of managing the relationship between its two drivers as the season enters its final phase. The team had entered Monza second in the Constructors’ Championship and remains in contention for victories despite Mercedes’ growing advantage.
The Formula 1 season continues next weekend, September 11-13, with the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madrid circuit. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 14th round of the 2026 season.
FAQ
When is the next F1 race?
The next Formula 1 race is the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, scheduled for September 11-13. It will be the first F1 race at the new Madrid circuit and the 14th round of the 2026 season.
Who is leading the 2026 F1 championship?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 267 points after his remarkable Italian GP victory from 19th on the grid. George Russell is second on 201, while Lewis Hamilton is third on 191.
Will Lewis Hamilton stay at Ferrari?
Hamilton remains under contract with Ferrari for the 2026 season, and his future with the team is one of the major ongoing stories surrounding the seven-time world champion. Ferrari has continued to rely on his feedback while he and Charles Leclerc remain its two race drivers.
