Charles Leclerc says Lewis Hamilton Ferrari controversy has gone too far
Leclerc thinks things with Hamilton are being overanalysed (Photo: Race Pictures)
13:00, 23 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Charles Leclerc has told the media that the scrutiny of his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton has been overcooked.
The two Ferrari drivers have come to blows on the track in Monza, and also on team radio, heightening tensions around Formula 1’s most successful team.
All of that has resulted in an underwhelming points haul in recent races, with just a single podium for the pair (Leclerc in Hungary) over the last five Grands Prix.
The spotlight is now fully on Ferrari as Kimi Antonelli flies off into the distance, and Leclerc isn’t sure that it’s fair.
Leclerc hits back over scrutiny of Hamilton rivalry
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Reflecting on the opening lap at Monza, which left Hamilton in the gravel, Leclerc said at the pre-Azerbaijan Grand Prix press conference: “I have said repeatedly that it's not something that we want to see ever happen again. And that's going too far on my side.
“But I've been through it already; I think it's pretty clear that we don't necessarily have to write those things [down]. I think it's clear enough.
“But again, I feel like it's being over-discussed and over-analysed when it's about the red cars, and that's not really fair.
“In Monza, if you look at the four top teams, three of them had fights like this, with the car finishing in the grass. And at the end of the day, the only thing we are still talking about now is the red cars, which I don't think is fair.”
Leclerc’s comments seem to conflict with Hamilton’s statements that at Mercedes they had a written code of conduct for intra-team battles.
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Instead, the Monegasque appears adamant that the two can sort things out between themselves.
Of course, there have been moments where I went too far, or Lewis went too far- Charles Leclerc
Leclerc admits both he and Hamilton have ‘gone too far’
Admitting fault on both parts, he added: “Of course there's been moments where I went too far, or Lewis went too far, but I think the key in that is to discuss it.
“I've been with Ferrari since 2019 now, and I know how everything we do is overanalysed, over-discussed and very often the conclusions that are taken after those kinds of fights are the wrong ones.
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“We only need to speak with Lewis to kind of understand we've been doing that all our life.
“We both want to win, and there's competition, but we also want to win as a team and to make Ferrari come out on top eventually. So that is the priority.
“I enjoyed fighting with Lewis, and that's what's exciting in Formula 1 is to be fighting against the best. And Lewis is definitely up there. So for me it's a big challenge, but I'm enjoying it.”
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Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Overview
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
08:30 AM
Practice 2
12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
08:30 AM
Qualification
12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
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11:00 AM
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
Thu 08:30 AM
Practice 2
Thu 12:00 PM
Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
Fri 08:30 AM
Qualification
Fri 12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
Race
Sat 11:00 AM
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