Martin Brundle has reiterated his view on the first-lap clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix. The intra-Ferrari battle saw Hamilton attempt a bold move up the inside at the first chicane, only to be forced wide and drop to 10th.
The former F1 driver turned Sky Sports pundit believes Hamilton's move was overly optimistic, especially when trying to hang around the outside of Leclerc into Turn 2. In his post-race column, Brundle explained that such a position at Monza rarely ends well.
"Into the first chicane Hamilton released the brakes and rolled up the inside of Leclerc, forcing him wide," Brundle wrote. "They were side by side and Hamilton stuck it out around the outside. A likely miffed Leclerc understeered wide and nerfed Hamilton off into the gravel. He could have given him more room most likely but clearly didn't want to."
He added that while racing incidents are judged differently on the opening lap, the reality is that being on the outside of Turn 2 at Monza often results in being run out of road. The stewards deemed it a racing incident, but Brundle stood by his initial assessment.
Nico Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, disagreed entirely, placing the blame squarely on Leclerc. "No way! Martin, I thought you knew what you were talking about usually!" Rosberg joked. "The rules are, if the driver on the outside is ahead at the apex, the inside must leave room. Lewis was ahead, so Charles had to leave room. It's 100 percent Charles' fault."
The clash between the two Ferraris has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. For Ferrari, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between letting their star drivers race and protecting the team's constructors' championship ambitions.
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