Charles Leclerc admitted that crucial internal discussions within Scuderia Ferrari were much needed to clear the air following a tense on-track clash with teammate Lewis Hamilton at the previous round in Mexico. Despite securing strong points with second and fourth-place finishes, the manner of their early race battle left lingering friction within the Maranello squad.
During the opening lap at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Leclerc charged from fourth to second and engaged in a fierce wheel-to-wheel fight with his teammate through the early corners up to Turn 4. Both drivers ran wide, prompting a frustrated reaction from Hamilton over team radio throughout the Grand Prix and continuing questions regarding racecraft following an earlier close call at Monza back in September.
The simmering tensions prompted Ferrari management to organize formal internal talks ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend at Interlagos. Leclerc's schedule was further complicated by a brief return to Monaco to celebrate the birth of his first child, causing him to miss media day responsibilities amidst a whirlwind personal week.
Speaking to media on Friday, the Monegasque driver expressed relief that the air had been successfully cleared between all parties involved. "It was really good to discuss all together," Leclerc stated when reflecting on the team meeting. "Obviously, for me, it’s been a bit of a crazy week, and positively, because I became a father for the first time, so we didn’t necessarily have time to discuss."
He emphasized that addressing the underlying frustrations was a necessary step for the team's harmony moving forward. "I think discussing whatever is left, or whatever frustration is left, was needed. Now I feel it’s fully settled, and I don’t think we should be speaking about it too much going forward," the driver added, confirming that the internal feud is now firmly put behind them.
While team unity has reportedly been restored, both drivers immediately shifted their attention to urgent on-track performance issues after struggling to sixth and seventh during Friday practice. The alarming lack of pace in both straight-line speed and cornering requires significant overnight setup changes for the SF-26 ahead of qualifying.
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