Leclerc admits Hamilton battle went too far at Monza after Ferrari clash – Charles Leclerc has admitted that his opening-lap battle with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix went too far, despite rejecting suggestions that the pair are constantly fighting each other. The Monegasque said the incident at Monza should not have happened after Hamilton was forced off track during their battle through the first chicane.
Leclerc and Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel almost immediately after the start at Ferrari’s home race. As they approached the opening chicane, the two Ferrari drivers fought for position, with Leclerc holding his line and Hamilton running off the circuit after the pair came together in the battle.
The incident renewed questions about how Ferrari manages the rivalry between its two drivers. Hamilton had previously suggested that clearer agreements may be needed within the team, while Leclerc insisted that there is no ongoing internal conflict between them.
However, Leclerc acknowledged that the battle at Monza crossed a line.
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Leclerc rejects claims of constant Ferrari rivalry
Leclerc was clearly frustrated by the continued narrative surrounding his relationship with Hamilton, pointing out that similar discussions had already taken place earlier in the season.
“I actually don’t know who keeps starting that story over and over again, as if Lewis and I are constantly fighting each other. There was already far too much talk about that in Zandvoort. But fair is fair: we went too far here.”
The comment reflects Leclerc’s view that the two Ferrari drivers generally race each other fairly and do not regularly interfere with one another’s races.
Nevertheless, he accepted that their battle at Monza was an example of both drivers pushing the limits too far.
Hamilton forced off after opening-lap battle
The incident occurred as the Ferrari pair arrived at the first chicane. Hamilton attempted to defend his position, while Leclerc tried to take the second part of the sequence as tightly as possible.
That left Hamilton with nowhere to go and forced him off the track, costing him valuable positions early in the race.
“I think Lewis was trying to defend his position in the first corner. After that, I tried to take the second corner as tightly as possible, but that proved not to be enough. We shouldn’t have done this here.”
Leclerc’s admission effectively ended any suggestion that he believed the incident was entirely Hamilton’s fault. While he explained how the situation developed, he accepted that the Ferrari drivers should have avoided allowing the battle to escalate.
Ferrari’s Monza disaster continued
The opening-lap confrontation ultimately proved to be only the start of a difficult afternoon for Ferrari.
Hamilton dropped back to tenth following the incident and was forced to recover positions throughout the race. The seven-time world champion eventually fought his way back to sixth, but Ferrari remained well short of the podium result it had hoped to deliver in front of its home crowd.
Leclerc’s afternoon was even more disappointing. The Monegasque was forced to retire after losing control of his Ferrari in the final corner and crashing heavily into the barriers.
The result meant Ferrari left Monza without the home victory or podium it had been targeting, while Leclerc was left to reflect on a battle with his teammate that he believes should never have been allowed to go that far.
For Ferrari, the incident also provides another reminder of the difficult balance involved in allowing two highly competitive drivers to race freely while protecting the team’s overall interests.
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