Formula 1
Charles Leclerc Admits He ‘Could Have Done a Better Job’ After Lewis Hamilton Monza Clash
Hamilton also praised Leclerc’s maturity, stressing that the relationship between the two Ferrari drivers remains healthy despite their increasingly intense battle on track. The pair had already experienced tension at the previous Dutch Grand Prix, where Leclerc resisted a Ferrari radio request concerning Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc has admitted he was at fault for his controversial clash with Lewis Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix, revealing that the Ferrari teammates have already spoken and moved on post-Monza.
The Ferrari drivers found themselves at the center of unwanted attention at Monza after going wheel-to-wheel through the opening chicane. Leclerc’s move forced Hamilton onto the gravel, costing the seven-time world champion valuable positions during Ferrari’s home race.
With the incident threatening to create tension inside Ferrari, Charles Leclerc has now accepted responsibility.
“It’s pretty clear that I could have done a better job,” Charles Leclerc said ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Leclerc Admits He Went Too Far
Reviewing the incident after the race, Leclerc said he should have slowed his Ferrari more aggressively rather than putting Hamilton in a difficult position.
“Having the Turn 2 incident is not something we ever want to see again,” he said.
The Monegasque driver acknowledged that he did not behave as he should have as a teammate and said the two Ferrari drivers had already discussed the incident privately.
“I told him that in Turn 2 I didn’t behave the way I should have, and the way a teammate should,” Leclerc said.
The admission could go a long way toward calming concerns about Ferrari’s two-driver relationship.
Hamilton Says Ferrari Pair Have ‘Squashed’ It
Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he and Charles Leclerc had sat down face-to-face following the Italian GP incident.
The seven-time world champion said neither tried to avoid the confrontation, and both drivers spoke openly about what happened.
“We were just both open and honest, and we squashed it. We can move on,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also praised Leclerc’s maturity, stressing that the relationship between the two Ferrari drivers remains healthy despite their increasingly intense battle on track.
The pair had already experienced tension at the previous Dutch Grand Prix, where Leclerc resisted a Ferrari radio request concerning Hamilton.
With the drivers often separated by tiny margins, Hamilton acknowledged that more frustration is inevitable.
Ferrari’s Biggest Problem May Be Bigger Than Leclerc vs Hamilton
Charles Leclerc also suggested that the enormous attention surrounding Ferrari magnifies incidents that might receive less scrutiny elsewhere. He pointed out that other teammate clashes occurred at Monza but did not generate anything close to the same reaction.
When Ferrari is involved, he argued, “the intensity of the noise” becomes disproportionate.
That pressure is particularly significant at Monza, where Ferrari carries enormous expectations from its home fans.
Hamilton, meanwhile, stressed that both drivers need to work together rather than fight against each other.
If the Ferrari pair can cooperate effectively, Hamilton believes they could turn fourth- and fifth-place finishes into podium opportunities and score significantly more points for the team.
Leclerc Cleared After Heavy Monza Crash
Charles Leclerc’s own Italian Grand Prix ended dramatically only two laps into the race.
The Ferrari driver suffered a heavy crash at the final corner, bringing out the red flag. Although he was medically cleared, Leclerc admitted that he initially felt dizzy following the impact.
He subsequently underwent checks and received treatment, particularly for his neck.
Leclerc said he was feeling well and expected to be 100% fit for the Spanish Grand Prix.
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New Madrid Circuit Adds Another Challenge
The focus now shifts from Ferrari’s internal drama to the new Madring circuit in Madrid.
The Spanish GP features a new hybrid street circuit around the IFEMA complex, creating another major test for the 2026 F1 field.
Lewis Hamilton described the track as exceptionally challenging, while Mercedes driver George Russell called it one of the riskiest circuits on the calendar because of its combination of high-speed corners, heavy braking zones, and walls close to the racing line.
That could make qualifying especially important and leave little room for another Ferrari mistake.
Kimi Antonelli’s Monza Win Changes the Championship Fight
Away from Ferrari, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli arrives in Spain with huge momentum after his stunning Italian GP victory from 19th on the grid.
The Italian described the win as “the best day of my life” and said a karting session with Mercedes the following day helped him return to normal after the celebrations.
His teammate George Russell now trails Antonelli by 66 points, admitting that he may need both stronger performances and some luck to revive his championship hopes.
Antonelli, however, insists he is not thinking about the title.
For Ferrari, the immediate objective is simpler: put the Monza controversy behind them, maximize the potential of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and avoid another teammate clash when the new Madring puts every driver under pressure.
