The wound hasn’t healed. Lewis Hamilton arrived at Interlagos on Thursday still seething about Mexico City’s opening-lap chaos that cost Ferrari a probable one-two finish, and made it crystal clear that the necessary conversations haven’t happened yet.
ALSO READ: Hamilton and Leclerc clash costs Ferrari victory in Mexico meltdown
One week after Charles Leclerc lunged aggressively on the opening lap and passed Hamilton by running off-track, wrecking Ferrari’s victory prospects in the process, the 41-year-old Briton admitted the situation remains unresolved.
“I was frustrated and I am still frustrated,” Hamilton told reporters in the Interlagos paddock ahead of his 400th Grand Prix. “Conversations need to be had so we will have those when the time permits.”
The timing hasn’t permitted because Leclerc, who became a father for the first time recently, returned to Europe to spend time with his family in Monaco. Vasseur headed back to Maranello.
The pattern Hamilton sees
Hamilton started on pole in Mexico and finished second. Leclerc came home fourth after their opening-lap tangle. Ferrari had the pace to lock out the front row on the podium, instead they gifted Max Verstappen victory through internal chaos that felt depressingly familiar.
“We had an opportunity to win for the team,” Hamilton said. “The team has done such an amazing job in bringing upgrades this year and they’ve been working flat out to bridge the gap given the power that we have. We could easily have had a one-two so we definitely have to work towards making sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
ALSO READ: Mexican GP: Antonelli’s class, Ferrari’s chaos, Russell’s pain
Then came the accusation that will dominate headlines until those promised conversations finally happen. Asked directly if Leclerc races him more aggressively than other drivers, Hamilton answered bluntly: “Yes.”
He paused, added “I can’t say more,” then said plenty more anyway.
“If you look at the team-mates… it was the same with Sebastian (Vettel) and it’s the same with Carlos (Sainz).”
Vasseur admitted “with hindsight” he would have managed the team entirely differently this year, but offered no specifics about Mexico’s disaster.
Chasing milestone glory
Sunday’s race marks Hamilton’s 400th Grand Prix, a statistical monument that puts him in rarefied company. He remembers the noise surrounding his 300th race, the 2022 French GP where he finished second behind Verstappen, when critics insisted reaching 300 meant his winning days were finished.
“I won my 300th so I guess my goal will be to work on winning my 400th,” Hamilton said.
Interlagos brings good memories. He clinched his first world title here in 2007’s rain-soaked drama, has won three times across 18 Brazilian appearances, collected seven podiums and been made an honorary citizen. If anywhere can provide the backdrop for milestone victory number 400, it’s the circuit that launched his championship dynasty.
