News Summary
- Frédéric Vasseur described Ferrari’s failure to win the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix as a lack of respect for the manufacturer, its sponsors and the people working behind the scenes.
- The Ferrari team principal criticised the consequences of the opening-lap battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, which resulted in a five-second penalty for the Monegasque.
- Vasseur refused to blame Leclerc alone, pointing out that Hamilton also ran wide and insisting that both drivers must consider the interests of the entire team.
Frédéric Vasseur delivered a strong warning to Ferrari after the team’s failure to win the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, describing the lost opportunity as a lack of respect for the manufacturer and the approximately 2,000 people working behind its Formula 1 operation. The Ferrari team principal expressed frustration following Sunday’s (November 1) race, in which Lewis Hamilton finished second behind Max Verstappen after a controversial opening-lap battle with teammate Charles Leclerc.
“I’m struggling to swallow it because, honestly, I think it’s a lack of respect,” Vasseur said.
“A lack of respect for the brand, a lack of respect for all the people working here and for the efforts we’re putting in.”
Vasseur criticises Ferrari after missed victory in Mexico
Ferrari entered Sunday’s race with a strong opportunity to end its wait for victory after Hamilton secured his first pole position for the Italian team on Saturday.
However, the opening lap immediately complicated the team’s prospects.
Leclerc attacked Hamilton through the opening corners before running off the circuit at Turn 4 and completing an overtake outside the track limits.
The FIA subsequently imposed a five-second time penalty on Leclerc, ruling that he had gained a lasting advantage by leaving the circuit.
Hamilton complained that his teammate had pushed him off track, later arguing that the incident had cost Ferrari the victory.
Vasseur shared the frustration over the outcome, highlighting the progress the team had made throughout the weekend.
“We’ve taken a real step forward in terms of performance. And I think throwing away a win like that is tough,” he said.
The Ferrari boss made clear that his criticism extended beyond the sporting result itself, emphasising the responsibilities associated with representing the Italian manufacturer.
Ferrari boss refuses to single out Leclerc
Asked whether his criticism was specifically directed at Leclerc, Vasseur rejected that interpretation.
“No, no, I didn’t target anyone; I want to talk with them,” he replied.
The team principal also acknowledged Hamilton’s role in the opening-lap incident.
“Lewis was running very wide too,” Vasseur said.
The FIA had reached a similar conclusion when reviewing the Turn 4 battle, determining that both Ferrari drivers entered the corner too quickly to remain within the track limits.
That circumstance contributed to the stewards reducing Leclerc’s penalty from the usual ten seconds to five.
However, Vasseur stressed that his principal concern was the wider impact of the incident on Ferrari.
“We also need to keep in mind that we represent a brand, we represent sponsors, we’ve got 2,000 people working behind us who aren’t just racing for the sake of racing, they’re racing for the whole team,” he said.
His remarks indicate that Ferrari intends to discuss the incident internally rather than publicly assign responsibility to one driver.
Hamilton says Leclerc incident cost Ferrari victory
Hamilton finished the race just 0.799s behind Verstappen, having fought the Red Bull driver for victory during the closing laps.
The seven-time world champion was particularly frustrated that Leclerc had not been required to return the position immediately after leaving the circuit.
Hamilton subsequently said the incident cost him the opportunity to win, arguing that the stewards had applied a different standard from the one discussed during the drivers’ briefing.
Leclerc ultimately finished fourth, behind Verstappen, Hamilton and newly crowned world champion Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Ferrari collected 30 championship points in Mexico, but Mercedes remains 126 points ahead in the Constructors’ Championship.
The Italian team has nevertheless demonstrated improved performance in recent races, with Hamilton ending a 1,197-day pole drought on Saturday.
The next scheduled Grand Prix takes place in São Paulo on November 8, giving Ferrari an opportunity to respond after its disappointing result in Mexico.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
FAQ
What did Frédéric Vasseur say after the Mexican Grand Prix?
Vasseur described Ferrari’s lost opportunity to win as a lack of respect for the manufacturer, its sponsors and the people working for the team.
Did Vasseur blame Charles Leclerc for Ferrari losing in Mexico?
No. Vasseur explicitly refused to single out Leclerc and acknowledged that Hamilton also ran wide during their opening-lap battle.
Where did Ferrari finish in the Mexican Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton finished second, just 0.799s behind Max Verstappen, while Charles Leclerc finished fourth.
