Hamilton: Leclerc races me harder than other rivals — SkimNews
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- Lewis Hamilton confirmed Charles Leclerc races him harder than other drivers, pointing to the Singapore Grand Prix where Leclerc was fully alongside Max Verstappen on the inside at Turn 1 — while noting it was "the same" with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz.
- Mexico City Grand Prix opening-lap clash between Hamilton and Leclerc cost Ferrari a likely victory and a potential one-two, with Verstappen taking the win for Red Bull.
- Charles Leclerc apologised after the September Monza collision that sent Hamilton onto the gravel at the first chicane during Ferrari's home race — a second flashpoint in a relationship the pair have otherwise kept friendly off track for two years.
- Ferrari had no scheduled time for the promised "sit down" with Frederic Vasseur as of Thursday, 5 November, with Vasseur back in Maranello and Leclerc in Monaco for the birth of his first child; Leclerc does not arrive at Interlagos until Friday, 6 November.
- Lewis Hamilton rejected claims his Mexico radio messages were "calculated", saying at 170 heartbeats per minute and 200mph there is no time to calculate and he will not be silenced — and cited staying silent when Hadjar backed off the racing line into Turn 1 in a Mexico practice session, a move that would have earned an impeding penalty.
- Ferrari has been "on the back foot on power this year" but has a car Hamilton calls phenomenal with great reliability, and he names one goal: fighting for the world championship next year.
Why it matters: Verstappen won in Mexico at Ferrari's expense, and by Thursday the Vasseur debrief had no scheduled time, with Leclerc reaching Interlagos on Friday. Hamilton's refusal to soften his criticism, alongside his admission that Ferrari has been 'on the back foot on power', makes that meeting central to Ferrari's stated goal of fighting for the world championship next year.
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