By Basant El-Faramawy
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur accused drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of showing “a lack of respect” for the team after the pair collided on the first lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix, surrendering a likely win to Max Verstappen.
Opening lap clash
Hamilton started from pole position for the first time with Ferrari and defended well at the start. Leclerc surged alongside him into the turn four-five complex but failed to make the corner, taking the lead while Hamilton was also passed by Verstappen as he stayed on track.
Penalties and race result
Leclerc received a five-second penalty for the maneuver and finished fourth after a late red-flag restart, while Hamilton crossed the line in second place. The incident handed victory to Verstappen on a day when Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest Formula 1 champion in history.
Vasseur's reaction
Speaking to Canal+, Vasseur said he was struggling to accept the outcome, calling it a lack of respect for the brand, the sponsors, and the 2,000 people working behind the scenes. He emphasized that the team had taken a performance step forward and that throwing away a win was difficult to swallow.
Team meeting planned
Vasseur insisted he was not singling out Leclerc alone, noting that Hamilton also went wide. He said the team would meet tonight or tomorrow morning to discuss the incident before turning attention to the next race in São Paulo.
