News Summary
- Lewis Hamilton renewed his criticism of Ferrari’s lost Mexican Grand Prix victory in a social media statement published on Monday.
- The seven-time world champion insisted that teammates must acknowledge when racing against each other damages the team’s interests, following his controversial opening-lap battle with Charles Leclerc.
- Hamilton reaffirmed his faith in Ferrari and congratulated Andrea Kimi Antonelli on winning the world championship, despite admitting his frustration over the missed opportunity.
Lewis Hamilton has renewed his criticism of the internal battle that cost Ferrari a potential victory at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, warning that drivers must accept responsibility when their competition harms the team. In a social media statement published on Monday (November 2), the seven-time Formula 1 world champion reflected on his frustration after Sunday’s race and reiterated that Ferrari must learn from the incident involving teammate Charles Leclerc.
Unlike his direct criticism after the Grand Prix, Hamilton did not mention Leclerc by name in his latest statement. However, his remarks followed the controversial opening-lap confrontation between the Ferrari drivers, which helped Max Verstappen move into contention for victory.
Hamilton demands accountability after Ferrari’s lost victory
Hamilton admitted that the Mexican Grand Prix had been a difficult weekend despite Ferrari’s progress.
The British driver started from pole position, his first for the Italian manufacturer, and appeared to have the pace to challenge for victory.
However, the opening-lap battle with Leclerc changed the course of the race.
The two drivers ran wide at Turn 4, with Leclerc crossing the grass and returning ahead. Verstappen also moved ahead of Hamilton during the incident.
The stewards subsequently imposed a five-second penalty on Leclerc for gaining an advantage outside the track limits.
Hamilton eventually finished second, just 0.799s behind Verstappen, while Leclerc took fourth.
Reflecting on the outcome, Hamilton acknowledged the efforts of Ferrari’s employees and the disappointment of failing to convert the team’s improved performance into victory.
He wrote that the team had made significant progress during the year and that the missed opportunity was particularly painful because of the work involved.
Hamilton insisted that competition between teammates must not come at the expense of the people supporting them.
The seven-time champion said drivers should be honest about situations in which their battles damage the team’s prospects and use those experiences to improve.
Hamilton admits frustration but refuses to abandon Ferrari
Hamilton also acknowledged how difficult it had been to accept the result.
Ferrari had demonstrated its strongest performance of the season in Mexico, with Hamilton securing pole and Leclerc qualifying third.
The team appeared capable of challenging for victory, but the opening-lap confrontation disrupted its position at the front.
Hamilton said he would not pretend that losing such an opportunity was anything other than frustrating.
However, his statement also contained a message of continued commitment to Ferrari.
The British driver reaffirmed his confidence in the team and promised to continue working towards success.
He stressed that his responsibility was to help Ferrari achieve its objectives and that his journey with the Italian manufacturer was still in its early stages.
The message was notably more measured than his post-race interviews, in which he had directly questioned Leclerc’s mentality.
Hamilton previously accused his teammate of adopting a ‘do or die’ approach, arguing that Ferrari needed clearer rules governing competition between its drivers.
Ferrari faces pressure to resolve Hamilton-Leclerc tensions
Hamilton’s latest remarks add to the pressure facing Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur.
The Frenchman described the lost Mexican Grand Prix victory as disrespectful to the team, highlighting the responsibilities of drivers representing the manufacturer.
However, Vasseur declined to blame Leclerc alone, acknowledging that Hamilton had also run wide during their opening-lap battle.
Leclerc subsequently admitted that his five-second penalty was deserved but argued that both drivers had made mistakes.
The dispute follows previous incidents involving the Ferrari teammates during the 2026 season.
Ferrari now faces the challenge of defining how its drivers should compete without compromising opportunities to win.
Hamilton congratulates Antonelli on historic championship
Despite his disappointment, Hamilton began his social media message by congratulating Andrea Kimi Antonelli on becoming Formula 1 world champion.
The Italian secured the title after finishing third in Mexico, becoming the youngest champion in the sport’s history.
Hamilton, who spent 12 seasons at Mercedes before joining Ferrari, expressed pride in seeing his former team celebrate the achievement.
He also praised Antonelli’s development and encouraged him to maintain the enthusiasm and support that had accompanied his rise through motorsport.
Antonelli’s championship marks the beginning of a new era at Mercedes, with the team now attempting to secure the Constructors’ Championship in Brazil.
For Hamilton, the immediate objective is to respond at the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 6–8, where Ferrari will seek to convert its improved competitiveness into a victory.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
