Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he and Charles Leclerc cleared the air in Sao Paulo following their on-track clash at the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, confirming that their tensions have been completely resolved.
Clearing the Air Without Team Intervention
The seven-time world champion insisted that the resolution did not require the intervention of team boss Fred Vasseur, as the drivers successfully sorted out their differences on their own. Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying in Sao Paulo, Hamilton explained that they sat down, talked through the situation, and moved forward with mutual respect.
Hamilton stated, as quoted by Autosport.com, “I mean, Fred hasn’t cleared the air in the sense of me and Charles. We sat and spoke and we squashed it and we’re moving on. I think we still have a huge amount of respect for each other.”
He added that he was glad they had the conversation and that everything was back to normal without any demands from either side. The friction originated from the Mexico race, where Hamilton believed a potential victory slipped away because Leclerc attacked him on the opening lap, forcing both drivers off the track and handing the win to Max Verstappen.
Resolving Perspectives and Moving Forward
Because Leclerc remained in Europe longer following the birth of his child, Vasseur was unable to hold a joint meeting in Mexico, pushing discussions to Sao Paulo. During Thursday’s media session, Hamilton reaffirmed his belief that Leclerc races him harder than any other competitor.
Following their private discussion, however, Hamilton expressed optimism about future races, noting that they exchanged viewpoints on areas for improvement and mutual support. Leclerc echoed these sentiments, confirming that the conflict was behind them and that their relationship remained strong.
Leclerc told Autosport.com, “Yes, of course. I really believe that when we speak things are much better straight away. Of course there is tension, of course we want to finish ahead of each other and sometimes we are not going to do things right.”
The Monegasque driver acknowledged that disagreements happen regarding how situations are viewed, but emphasized that direct communication helps immensely. He noted that the media attention grew out of proportion and lingered longer than necessary due to his special family circumstances during the week, making the face-to-face talk a closed chapter for the team as they look ahead.
