Charles Leclerc opens up about his private chat with Lewis Hamilton after their disagreement at the Italian GP
Charles Leclerc has opened up about his private talks with Lewis Hamilton after their clash last weekend in Italy. The two Ferrari drivers had a tense moment at Monza when Hamilton accused Leclerc over team radio of pushing him off during their first-lap fight. Unfortunately for Ferrari, Leclerc crashed on the second lap, making it a tough day for the team.
Now, the 29-year-old has shared that he and Hamilton have talked through their feelings since the race, ahead of the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. Speaking to a few journalists, Leclerc said he was hesitant at first to discuss the incident, worried it might seem like they were just arguing back and forth. But he has since clarified that they had a good conversation and sorted things out.
“I didn’t want to talk about it because I was worried people would think Lewis and I were just going back and forth, but that’s not the case,” Leclerc said. “The important thing is we cleared the air. We both told each other how we felt, and now we understand each other better without the heat of the race.”
Leclerc added that clashes like this are part of racing, especially when drivers start close together often. “It’s not the last time this will happen for sure, but it’s not a situation we want to find ourselves in again,” he said.
He also took responsibility for what happened at Monza. “I have a lot of respect for Lewis. I told him I didn’t act the way I should have, especially as a teammate. It happens when you’re super motivated, and sometimes you go too far – like I did. We’ll work on making sure it doesn’t happen again,” Leclerc said.
After his crash, Leclerc had to go to the medical center for checks. He was okay but needs further tests before the Spanish Grand Prix. If he can’t race, Ferrari has a surprise backup driver ready to step in.
At Monza, fans noticed from Oscar Piastri’s onboard camera that when Leclerc lost control, his car also hit a drainage grill, which helped explain the crash.
Ferrari hopes for a better weekend in Spain, with both Leclerc and Hamilton ready to put the past behind them.