The heated incident at the Mexico City Grand Prix between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton has triggered ripples that extend far beyond the track surface. Renowned motorsport analyst Martin Brundle believes that Hamilton is now strategically leveraging the internal tension at Ferrari to cement his position as the team's primary driver in Maranello.
During the race in Mexico, Leclerc attempted a high-risk move at Turn 4, which resulted in him cutting across the grass. Although the stewards handed out a five-second penalty, Hamilton made his frustration clear over the team radio. According to Brundle, the seven-time world champion is now at a stage in his career where he is unfiltered regarding the team's internal dynamics.
"He's at the stage of his career, life, where he's going to be unfiltered, and he was pretty unhappy with what happened," Brundle stated. The former F1 driver highlighted that Hamilton's comments during the red flag were not merely a spontaneous outburst, but a pointed message directed toward the Ferrari hierarchy in Italy.
Brundle drew parallels to Hamilton's combustible years alongside Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, asserting that such friction is inevitable within a top-tier team. "I think Lewis has realised there's a really good platform to carve himself out more of a number one spot there, more clout in that situation. He's not going to let that go," Brundle added.
This situation presents a complex challenge for Ferrari's management. With thousands of staff members involved, the narrative of 'team interest' often clashes with individual driver ambition. Brundle believes Hamilton is playing a calculated political game to ensure that future team priorities tilt in his favor, especially after witnessing the 'silly' move executed by Leclerc in Mexico.
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