Hamilton fires defiant warning amid Leclerc tension and Ferrari penalty threat

Lewis Hamilton says he “won’t be silenced” as he continues to push for “conversations that must be had” about how he and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc race each other.

It is the second time in recent races that in-fighting between the two drivers has cost Ferrari a potential victory.

In the Mexico City Grand Prix, Leclerc attacked Hamilton into Turns 1 and 2.

At Turn 4, Leclerc attempted to go around the outside of the seven-time world champion.

Hamilton went too deep into the corner in defense, and Leclerc ran off the track.

Over team radio, Hamilton said his teammate “pushed him off.”

After the race, he went further.

“So we’re going into Turn 4, first and second,” Hamilton told reporters in Mexico.

“If we just held position, I think anything can happen in the race, but when your teammate works against you, and then you lose positions like that, it’s definitely tough.”

Max Verstappen capitalized on the squabble and took the win for Red Bull.

Hamilton said the two drivers would talk “offline” but made clear the issue is not resolved.

“We don’t have rules of engagement, and whether or not that will change anything from Charles’ side, I don’t know,” Hamilton said.

“We’ve just got to figure it out, but something needs to change, for sure.”

The incident echoed a similar clash at the Italian Grand Prix in September, where internal friction also cost Ferrari points.

Four days after Mexico, Leclerc had not yet arrived in Brazil for the next race weekend.

He was absent due to the birth of his child.

That left Hamilton to face the media alone at Ferrari’s Thursday press conference in São Paulo.

The topic was the Mexico incident.

Hamilton said he and team principal Fred Vasseur have not yet had a detailed conversation about what happened.

“Well, we haven’t really had the time to speak much in depth,” Hamilton said.

“We have spoken, and I fully understand my responsibility to the team.

“We have so many people working so hard back at the factory.

“That’s why I’m always praising them.

“That’s why I’m always trying to show my appreciation for them and do my absolute utmost to help push the team forward, and I feel like I’ve been a big part of where we are today as a team, which is positive.”

Vasseur’s own post-race comments did not single out either driver.

But Hamilton’s message on Thursday was clear: he is not backing down.

“I’m not going to be silenced,” he said.

“I will not be silenced.”

He also admitted that his outspoken nature has made his move to Ferrari more difficult.

Hamilton joined the Maranello team at the start of the 2025 season.

Leclerc has been with Ferrari for eight years and has nine wins for the team.

“He is very much embedded within the team, and I know that it would always be a challenge,” Hamilton said.

“I’ve always respected that, and I’ve approached the team and really worked hard to build a good relationship with Charles and bridge the gap and make sure that we’re harmonious and work hard together.

“Always tried to be respectful.”

But he acknowledged that his arrival was never going to be seamless.

“Naturally, it’s not so easy having someone like me come into a team, because I’m very outspoken and I push and push and push,” Hamilton said.

“Push for so many changes.

“And I’m going to be pushing for more.