Charles Leclerc has questioned who is pushing the narrative of an internal rivalry at Ferrari after a heated clash with teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Italian Grand Prix. The Monegasque driver expressed bewilderment at the persistent talk of discord between the two.
“I don't really know who is forcing that narrative that we are one against the other,” said Charles Leclerc to media, including Motorsport.com. “Honestly, at Zandvoort there was way too much talk already.”
The incident at Monza unfolded when both Ferraris started from the second row. Hamilton attempted a move up the inside for Turn 1, but Leclerc held his ground and took the inside line for Turn 2. Hamilton, still alongside on the outside, was left with no room, ran two wheels onto the gravel, and lost several positions.
Although racing rules allowed Leclerc to squeeze his teammate since Hamilton wasn't ahead at the apex, the clash reignited debates about Ferrari's driver management. Earlier in the season at the Dutch GP, strategy confusion had already sparked tension when Leclerc defied team orders to pit later than instructed.
Leclerc Admits They Went Too Far
Leclerc conceded that the incident in front of the tifosi was not a good look, especially as he crashed out on the following lap while trying to recover.
“Here, it's true though that we went too far,” he said. “I think Lewis in Turn 1, then Turn 2, I tried to do the tightest corner possible, but that was just not enough – and doing it here is not good.”
The clash adds another chapter to the simmering tension between two star drivers in the same team. Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari in 2025, and Leclerc are expected to collaborate for the team's title ambitions, but on-track aggression often overrides paper cooperation.
As the paddock buzzes with speculation, Leclerc insists his relationship with Hamilton is fine, but the constant narrative risks destabilizing the team atmosphere.
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