Vasseur: Ferrari's Lost Mexico City Win 'Difficult to Digest'

Ferrari's hopes of a first Mexico City victory since 1972 unraveled in a chaotic opening lap, leaving team principal Fred Vasseur to describe the lost one-two finish as "difficult to digest." Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton collided while battling for the lead, allowing Max Verstappen to steal the win and sparking internal tension over teamwork.

Why it matters:

Ferrari had a rare opportunity to convert pace into a dominant result, with Hamilton on pole and both cars running one-two early on. The incident exposed cracks in the team's driver management and cost valuable constructors' points as they try to close the gap to Mercedes.

The details:

• Hamilton started from pole, but Leclerc drew alongside early. At Turn 4, both Ferraris ran off track; Leclerc cut Turn 5 to stay ahead while Verstappen passed Hamilton for second.
• Leclerc received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off track, losing the lead to Verstappen at the pit stops and eventually finishing fourth. Hamilton recovered to second, just 0.7s behind.
• Vasseur emphasized the impact on the 2,000 factory staff: "It's a matter of respect. We had a win on the table... you don't imagine you can lose the race. And we were able to do it."
• Hamilton was blunt: "The race was lost in the first two corners. We could have easily finished first and second if we worked together as a team." He also warned that without a "real deep serious conversation," similar mistakes will recur.
• Leclerc defended his aggression: "When you are fighting for a win, I will always go for it. I braked as late as I possibly could." He admitted the situation was "confusing" after cutting the corner but kept his position.

What's next:

Ferrari's faint constructors' hopes remain alive—they reduced the gap to Mercedes to 126 points with four rounds left—but the internal friction could define their season. Vasseur faces the task of aligning two champion-caliber drivers while Hamilton demands accountability. The next race will test whether Ferrari can turn frustration into focus.