Lewis Hamilton denies blame for Charles Leclerc clash
Hamilton wouldn't take the blame in Monza (Photo: Race Pictures)
09:15, 07 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.
Lewis Hamilton has appeared to deny any culpability for his first chicane tangle with teammate Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix.
The two Ferrari drivers duelled at the start of what was a disappointing home race where Hamilton finished sixth, and Leclerc retired on lap one from a heavy crash.
Before Leclerc’s final corner shunt into the barriers, he was attacked by Hamilton at Turn 1 and made contact, before the latter was squeezed into the gravel trap on the exit of Turn 2.
Post-race, Leclerc wanted to share the responsibility, saying his British teammate went too far at the first corner, before he did so at the second.
However, speaking to GPblog and others, Hamilton wasn’t so convinced.
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Hamilton disputes Leclerc's version of Ferrari clash
“I was ahead in turn two,” he said. “By the apex, I was ahead; there was no we in it.
“There’s not really much to say about it. It was very bad for the team and, obviously, put us way back in positions.
“Then I just tried to reset, and I was like, okay. Try to catch up, and then obviously we had to stop, but I think we picked the wrong tyres, probably.
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“We'll take it offline and talk about it for sure.”
The Ferraris went wheel-to-wheel and Hamilton ended in the gravel (Photo: Race Pictures)
Hamilton: ‘I don't race dirty’
Asked if Ferrari fans should be worried about their drivers scrapping again, he continued: “I don't race dirty. I've always raced clean and fairly and always left space, so I don't think they should be worried about me.
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“I've come into the team and tried to be respectful of space and definitely not put the team in jeopardy, and I stand by that, and that's all I can talk about on my side.
“You have to speak to Fred [Vasseur, team principal] about the other side and decisions that are taken there.”
Hamilton was pressed on the first corner incident again, but shyed away from any direct criticism of Leclerc or Ferrari.
Hamilton refuses to turn on Ferrari after Monza disappointment
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“I don't wanna get into arguing and fighting about my team,” he said. "At the end of the day, I'm trying my hardest to help this team get to where it needs to be.
“We didn't do so well today, but it's painful enough as it is to [not] be badgering my guys. They go home to their families; they're working really, really hard.
“Yes, we didn't get it right today; it isn't good enough, but we'll go back to the drawing board, and we'll come back. We'll show up with good energy in the next race, and we'll keep trying.”
Despite the tangle with Leclerc, Hamilton was given a quick opportunity to reset when his teammate soon crashed, triggering a red flag.
However, he struggled to make up any ground, with Kimi Antonelli winning his home race ahead of teammate George Russell, Max Verstappen, and both McLarens.
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Hamilton stunned by Mercedes straight-line speed
Explaining why he couldn’t get any closer, Hamilton added: “I was in the fight feeling good, I think grip felt good. The car felt generally decent through the corners, but just in the straight and just it was just pulling.
“We knew that they'd be fast on the straights, but it was really mind-blowing just how quick they were on the straights and the Mercedes-Benz power. That thing just keeps pulling, pulling, pulling.
“I'll keep pushing and trying to get more from the team and from my car and from the engineers and design and everything like that. But today, we're just straight-line speed maxed with these engines and [compared to] Mercedes with pretty much the same engine [without upgrades].”
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Friday 11.09.26
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Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
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