Leclerc acknowledges 'tension' with Hamilton, says Mexico fallout is settled

Charles Leclerc has finally addressed the fallout from Ferrari's Mexican Grand Prix, acknowledging the competitive tension with Lewis Hamilton while insisting the matter is now "a closed chapter" after internal talks with team principal Fred Vasseur.

Why it matters:

The Mexico incident, where Hamilton and Leclerc's battle risked compromising team interests, exposed the fragile dynamic between two champion-caliber drivers. With Ferrari chasing constructors' glory, managing this rivalry is crucial to avoiding costly on-track clashes.

The details:

• Leclerc, absent from early discussions due to the birth of his first child, spoke with Vasseur and Hamilton on Thursday and considers the issue resolved.
• "Of course there is tension," Leclerc said. "We want to finish ahead of each other and sometimes we don't do things right. It's OK to disagree, but discussing it helps."
• Hamilton echoed: "Me and Charles sat and spoke and squashed it. We still have huge respect for each other."
• The Mexican GP flashpoint saw the two fight hard, with Leclerc saying it took on "proportions way too big."
• Both emphasized mutual respect and a desire to move forward, with no demands from either side.

What's next:

While the public reconciliation suggests calm has returned, the underlying tension remains. Ferrari must carefully manage the dynamic, knowing another incident could quickly reignite the debate and test the team's patience once more.