Maurizio Arrivabene Warns Ferrari Is Splitting Into Two Camps After Hamilton-Leclerc Mexico Crash

Former Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene warned that the Scuderia is fracturing internally following the Lap 1 collision between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Mexico.

The high-stakes squabble between the two Maranello teammates has ignited fierce debate across the Formula 1 paddock.

Tensions reached a boiling point at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez when Leclerc launched an aggressive opening-lap move against Hamilton.

Hamilton had started the Mexican Grand Prix from pole position.

Leclerc lunged into the opening corners in an aggressive bid to snatch the lead away from his British colleague.

Both Ferrari cars ran off the racing circuit during the heated exchange.

The squandered track position allowed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to slip past both red machines.

Verstappen comfortably secured the Grand Prix victory after the Ferrari squabble opened the door.

Hamilton recovered to cross the finish line in second place.

Leclerc took fourth position at the checkered flag after serving a five-second penalty for gaining an illegal advantage.

FRACTURE IN MARANELLO

Arrivabene did not hold back when assessing the growing rift between the two drivers inside the garage.

Speaking to Sky Italia, the former Ferrari team principal offered a blunt assessment of the team's operational dynamic.

"Two drivers in the same box, but we see two different camps," Arrivabene stated.

The Italian manager emphasized that internal authority must come directly from the pit wall.

"The team principal has to be the team principal, and the driver has to be the driver," Arrivabene argued.

He delivered an uncompromising reminder to both Hamilton and Leclerc regarding their standing at Maranello.

"You are drivers and therefore employees of Ferrari. Period."

Arrivabene also highlighted the sharp contrast in racecraft displayed during the decisive braking zone in Mexico City.

"We mustn’t forget – Leclerc was up against Hamilton, who brings enormous experience and cleverness," Arrivabene explained.

"Both braked too late in the decisive moment, but Lewis had the experience to stay on the track, while Leclerc made a fool of himself."

MOUNTING VOICES OF CONCERN

Arrivabene is not the only high-profile figure warning of a leadership crisis inside Ferrari.

Former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo also expressed grave concern over the team's recent trajectory.

Di Montezemolo warned that consecutive incidents between the drivers at Monza and Mexico "should make us reflect."

Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg similarly urged current team principal Frederic Vasseur to establish control immediately.

Rosberg cautioned that if Vasseur fails to intervene decisively, "the drivers will take matters into their own hands."

The Italian sporting press reacted with fury to the lost opportunity at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Italian publication Autosprint delivered a scathing verdict on the Scuderia's current state.

"We have the car, but not the drivers or the team," the magazine wrote.

Sky Italia presenter Mara Sangiorgio reported that Ferrari chairman John Elkann was visibly displeased with the outcome.

"Vasseur publicly criticized both of his drivers in Mexico, and Elkann was certainly not happy after what he saw, also because the missed opportunities are starting to add up," Sangiorgio revealed.

FALLOUT IN MEXICO

Vasseur openly expressed his fury over the incident in the immediate aftermath of the race.

The team principal raged about what he described as "huge disrespect" shown to the iconic Ferrari brand.

Flavio Vanetti of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published a brutal critique targeting Leclerc's aggressive mentality.

Vanetti described Leclerc as "once again blinded by the desire to win, by the rush to get ahead."

The Italian journalist acknowledged that leading from the start at the Mexican track can often prove decisive.

"Exaggeration was the key word for the Mexican Leclerc, who ended up going to bed without a podium finish," Vanetti wrote.

Vanetti noted that Leclerc's robust late defense of fourth place against Lando Norris merely compounded the overall disappointment.

HAMILTON'S FRUSTRATION ERUPTS

Hamilton made no secret of his intense irritation with how the opening lap unfolded.

Vanetti reported scenes of extraordinary anger from the seven-time world champion throughout the race weekend.

Hamilton furiously accused the stewards of leniency after Leclerc received only a five-second penalty.

"They stole my victory," Hamilton said bluntly.

Tensions spilled over visibly during a red-flag interruption caused by Valtteri Bottas's accident.

Hamilton abruptly dropped his electric scooter in front of the pit lane before lodging complaints against his team.

Vanetti openly questioned the dynamic inside Maranello going forward.

"Considering the situation with Charles there is the risk that soon they will need to talk in a boxing ring," Vanetti wrote.

He then posed a difficult question for team management: "Is Hamilton useful to Ferrari?"

HAMILTON COMPARES MERCEDES TURMOIL

Speaking after the race, Hamilton labeled Leclerc's opening-lap overtake attempt completely "unnecessary."

He argued that Ferrari missed an easy one-two finish as a direct result of the intra-team squabble.

"If I'm coming from behind and I'm taking all the risk and it ends up that we lose as a team, then I think I have some answering to do, because it impacts a lot of people," Hamilton told reporters.

"But the other way around, I'm in the lead, and it was just unnecessary."

Hamilton stressed the disappointment felt on behalf of the personnel at the Maranello factory.

"I think we could have easily had that one-two today, which would have been huge for the team and for everyone back at the factory who's worked so hard to bring us these upgrades," Hamilton explained.

He also hinted at a lack of managerial action from Ferrari leadership.

"I don't really know what will be done because up until now nothing really has been done," Hamilton added.