Leclerc reveals private Hamilton conversation that settled Monza fallout

What was supposed to be a celebratory home weekend for Ferrari quickly turned into a nightmare at Monza, one that continues to leave its mark a week later. After both drivers recovered from a difficult qualifying session to start from the second row, tensions surfaced almost immediately in the race, with Leclerc forcing Hamilton towards the edge of the track during their opening-lap battle.

Hamilton subsequently dropped down the order and voiced his frustration over the radio, while Leclerc's afternoon unravelled only a few corners later when he spun at the Parabolica, triggering a red flag. The incident and the aggressive intra-team fight ultimately overshadowed what Ferrari hoped would be a special weekend in front of the Tifosi.

Speaking to GPblog and other media ahead of the Madrid weekend, Leclerc said about the incident: "I mean, the rules of engagement, I think it's kind of clear that we never want to see the car of the same team on the grass. So, I mean, after reviewing, we spoke with Lewis.

The Monegasque then stressed once again that the incident did not affect his relationship with Hamilton.

The Monegasque added that the most important aspect was clearing the air directly with Hamilton after the race. The two Ferrari drivers discussed their respective views once the emotions of Monza had settled and ultimately found common ground over what happened. Leclerc acknowledged that similar situations can occur when teammates regularly start and race close together, but stressed that neither driver wants to find themselves in the same position again.

Following Leclerc and Hamilton's on-track battle at Monza, Juan Pablo Montoya believes Ferrari must address the situation internally before tensions have a chance to develop further. Speaking on F1 TV, the Colombian argued that the matter should not be left solely to team principal Frederic Vasseur, suggesting senior figures within Ferrari should also become involved and bring both drivers together for a serious discussion at Maranello.

Montoya was particularly critical of Leclerc's approach to racing his teammate, pointing to the Monegasque's insistence that he treated Hamilton no differently from any other rival on the grid. In Montoya's view, that attitude overlooks the responsibilities that come with representing the same team. While fighting for position remains part of Formula 1, he believes teammates must show each other a greater degree of consideration, both out of mutual respect and to protect Ferrari's wider interests.