{"id":2645,"date":"2026-09-23T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2645"},"modified":"2026-09-23T09:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T12:05:07","slug":"leclerc-admits-crossing-line-with-hamilton-but-rejects-unfair-ferrari-scrutiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/leclerc-admits-crossing-line-with-hamilton-but-rejects-unfair-ferrari-scrutiny\/","title":{"rendered":"Leclerc admits crossing line with Hamilton but rejects &#8220;unfair&#8221; Ferrari scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Charles Leclerc admitted he went too far against Lewis Hamilton at Monza but said both drivers have crossed the line during 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Monegasque believes incidents involving Ferrari receive disproportionate attention compared with similar battles elsewhere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leclerc said Ferrari\u2019s racing principles are already clear and rejected the need for written rules between the teammates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Charles Leclerc has accepted responsibility for his first-lap clash with Lewis Hamilton at Monza but rejected the suggestion that the incident exposed a deeper crisis between Ferrari\u2019s Formula 1 drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan GP, Leclerc acknowledged that both he and Hamilton have occasionally exceeded the limits during their battles. However, he argued that open discussion\u2014not a formal rulebook\u2014is the most important tool for managing their rivalry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course, there have been moments where I went too far, where Lewis went too far, but I think the key in that is to discuss,\u201d Leclerc said during Wednesday\u2019s FIA press conference in Baku.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve been with Ferrari since 2019 now, and I know how everything we do is over-analysed, over-discussed and very often the conclusions that are taken after those kinds of fights are the wrong ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leclerc and Hamilton collided while fighting through Monza\u2019s opening chicane. Hamilton was pushed into the gravel and lost several positions, while Leclerc later retired following a heavy crash at Parabolica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Monegasque subsequently admitted that he had gone too far and told Hamilton directly that his conduct was not how a teammate should behave. The pair cleared the air before the Spanish GP, with Hamilton saying that \u201cnothing lingers\u201d after their internal discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"652\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita-1024x652.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1020314211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita-1024x652.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita-768x489.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AFP__20260906__C7GN7PB__v1__MidRes__AutoPrixF1Ita.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leclerc admits Hamilton clash went too far but says Ferrari scrutiny is unfair (Photo: AFP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leclerc says Ferrari rivalry is being exaggerated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latest comments are less an attempt to withdraw that apology than a challenge to the wider interpretation of the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leclerc maintained that the competitive relationship remains healthy because both drivers understand that Ferrari\u2019s interests ultimately come first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe both want to win and there\u2019s competition, but we also want to win as a team and to make Ferrari come out on top eventually. That is the priority,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI enjoyed fighting with Lewis, and that\u2019s what\u2019s exciting in Formula 1\u2014to be fighting against the best. Lewis is definitely up there, so for me it\u2019s a big challenge, but I\u2019m enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leclerc\u2019s frustration centres on the level of attention given to Ferrari whenever its drivers fight. He noted that several leading teams experienced tense moments between teammates at Monza, yet the Ferrari clash continued to dominate discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you look at Monza, the four top teams, three of them had fights like this with the car finishing in the grass,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt the end of the day, the only thing we are speaking about still now is the red cars, which I don\u2019t think is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That argument has some merit: every disagreement involving Ferrari carries additional weight because of the team\u2019s history, audience and political importance within F1. The arrival of Hamilton has magnified that effect, placing every strategic call, radio message and wheel-to-wheel confrontation under greater scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ferrari does not need written rules, says Leclerc<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton initially criticised <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/hamilton-criticizes-ferrari-driver-management-after-leclerc-clash-there-are-no-rules-here\/\">Ferrari\u2019s management of its drivers after the Monza clash<\/a>, contrasting the situation with the formal agreements used during his time at Mercedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Team principal Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Vasseur later insisted that <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/vasseur-rejects-hamiltons-claim-that-ferrari-has-no-rules-the-principles-are-clear\/\">Ferrari\u2019s principles for Hamilton and Leclerc were already clear<\/a>. Leclerc has now supported that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTurn 2 in Monza is something that I\u2019ve said repeatedly is not something we want to see ever happen again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it\u2019s pretty clear that we don\u2019t necessarily have to write those things. It\u2019s clear enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ferrari intends to allow its drivers to race while neither has been formally removed from championship contention. That freedom makes further difficult moments possible, but Leclerc believes communication between himself, Hamilton and the team is sufficient to prevent individual rivalry from becoming destructive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversy also arrives during a period of broader scrutiny at Maranello. Hamilton recently <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/hamilton-denies-asking-ferrari-to-replace-staff-amid-fresh-tension-reports\/\">denied asking Ferrari to replace members of his trackside team<\/a>, while defending the employees around him and calling for the operation to improve collectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ferrari\u2019s next test comes in Baku, where the narrow walls, long straights and limited margin for error will punish any renewed internal dispute. The <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/why-is-the-2026-azerbaijan-grand-prix-being-held-on-saturday\/\">2026 Azerbaijan GP will unusually take place on Saturday<\/a>, September 26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race takes place on Saturday, September 26, because Sunday is Azerbaijan\u2019s Remembrance Day. The entire programme was moved forward, with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Azerbaijan GP starts at <strong>12:00 UK, 07:00 ET and 15:00 local time<\/strong> on Saturday. It will run for 51 laps around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship in Azerbaijan?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Antonelli arrives in Baku with an <strong>81-point lead over George Russell<\/strong>, making him mathematically capable of securing the championship. To become champion, he must leave Azerbaijan at least <strong>75 points ahead<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happened between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Monza?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ferrari drivers fought through the opening chicane on the first lap. Leclerc forced Hamilton into the gravel, costing the Briton several positions, before later accepting responsibility for going too far.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Charles Leclerc acknowledged mistakes from both Ferrari drivers but insisted their relationship remains strong and the team does not need written rules of engagement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020315193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Charles Leclerc","42wp_featured_image_credits":"F1","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[28,325,56,63],"42wp_author":[59],"class_list":["post-2645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-charles-leclerc","tag-f1-2026","tag-ferrari","tag-lewis-hamilton","42wp_author-fabricio-carvalho"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645\/revisions\/2648"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020315193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}