F1 Today: Hamilton's one-word Leclerc bombshell as Verstappen penalty looms

Lewis Hamilton has reignited tensions with Charles Leclerc following their controversial battle at the Mexican Grand Prix, admitting that his Ferrari teammate races him more aggressively than other drivers.

The seven-time world champion remains frustrated by the opening-lap incident in Mexico, where Ferrari missed an opportunity to secure a one-two finish. Hamilton believes the team must address what happened to prevent similar situations in the remaining races.

Speaking ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton confirmed that detailed discussions with Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur have yet to take place. Both drivers have been occupied with other commitments, leaving the matter unresolved.

The Briton was then asked whether Leclerc approaches battles against him differently compared to other rivals, with the question referencing the Monegasque's racing against Max Verstappen in Singapore.

Hamilton confirmed that he shares that impression, although he declined to elaborate further. He also suggested that Leclerc's former Ferrari teammates, Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, experienced similar situations.

Hamilton acknowledged that joining a team where Leclerc has spent several years presented challenges from the outset. Nevertheless, he stressed that he has worked hard to build a positive relationship with the Monegasque.

Verstappen could still face a grid penalty before the end of the Formula 1 season, although Red Bull Racing is currently not planning to introduce a new engine for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

GPblog understands that the Austrian team has no immediate intention of changing Verstappen's power unit at Interlagos. However, the situation remains open, and a decision could still be made in the coming days.

The four-time world champion has been anticipating a possible penalty for several races, having already reached the permitted allocation for most of his power unit components.

Red Bull previously considered taking a penalty at the Malaysian Grand Prix, where introducing additional components would have forced Verstappen to start from the back of the grid. However, his competitive pace convinced the team to postpone the decision.

Verstappen subsequently secured pole position and victory at Sepang, before adding further wins in Singapore and Mexico. He also finished third at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Red Bull can continue using previously installed components without triggering a penalty. However, introducing additional elements beyond the permitted allocation would carry consequences for Verstappen's starting position. For now, the Dutchman is expected to approach the Brazilian weekend without an engine-related grid drop, although Red Bull's final decision remains subject to change.