In short
- Charles Leclerc forced Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton into the gravel at the first chicane at Monza before crashing two laps later; Hamilton recovered to finish sixth.
- The Monza collision was the second flashpoint between the Ferrari drivers in two races, after a radio argument at the Dutch Grand Prix when Leclerc resisted a request to move aside.
- George Russell heads into the Spanish Grand Prix 66 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who won at Monza from 19th on the grid.
- The Spanish Grand Prix is being held at the new Madring, a hybrid street circuit built on the Ifema complex near the city’s international airport.
Lewis Hamilton says he and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc have settled the controversy from the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Leclerc forced him into the gravel at the first chicane and crashed two laps later. Hamilton recovered to finish sixth.
How did Hamilton and Leclerc settle the Monza incident?
Speaking at the media day for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton said the two drivers had spoken face to face without avoiding the issue. “What’s great is that there was no shying away from having a discussion. We sat face to face, just him and I, and talked about it,” Hamilton said. “We were just both open and honest, and we squashed it. We can move on. I think that one shows the maturity from him.”
Leclerc said he accepted he had gone too far. “It’s kind of clear that we never want to see a car of the same team in the grass,” he said. “After reviewing, we spoke with Lewis. I obviously know I went too far in turn two and I said it to Lewis.” Leclerc declined to give further detail but said the incident had not damaged their relationship.
Leclerc added that the collision at Ferrari’s home race “does a huge mess outside”, and said friction between other team-mates had drawn less attention than his clash with Hamilton.
Was there earlier friction between the Ferrari drivers?
The Monza collision was the second flashpoint between the Ferrari team-mates in two races. At the Dutch Grand Prix, Leclerc resisted a team request to move aside for Hamilton, prompting an argument over the radio. Hamilton said the pair are close in pace and both want to win, describing the relationship as “healthy”.
Hamilton also said Ferrari must improve after three consecutive race weekends where qualifying did not go to plan. “Instead of us working against each other and finish fourth and fifth, maybe we can work together and get a podium and pull off more points,” he said, describing the process as long term.
What is the new Madring circuit?
Formula 1 races this weekend at the first Spanish Grand Prix held at the Madring, a hybrid street circuit built on the Ifema complex near the city’s international airport. Hamilton called it “a massively challenging circuit”, comparing its difficulty to Saudi Arabia’s venue.
Mercedes driver George Russell said: “It’s a crazy circuit, I would put it. Arguably one of the most risky circuits of the whole calendar.” Russell cited high-speed corners with walls close to the track and slow braking zones where locking a tyre sends a car into the wall.
What are the title standings?
Russell heads into the Spanish Grand Prix 66 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who won at Monza from 19th on the grid. Russell said his title hopes would need luck, with nine or 10 races left amid uncertainty about the end of the season. “He’s performing better than me, so he deserves to be leading the championship,” Russell said.
Antonelli said he is not thinking about the championship. “Monza was the proof that I wasn’t driving thinking about, or worrying about the championship. I was just driving to win, to do my best,” he said. He called the win “so far the best day of my life” and said a day karting with Mercedes on Monday helped him come back to earth.
Frequently asked questions
What happened between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Monza?
Leclerc forced Ferrari team-mate Hamilton into the gravel at the first chicane at Monza and then crashed two laps later. Hamilton recovered to finish sixth.
Did Hamilton and Leclerc resolve their dispute?
Yes. Hamilton said the two sat face to face, were open and honest, and “squashed it”. Leclerc said he told Hamilton he went too far in turn two and that their relationship was unaffected.
Where is the first Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring being held?
The Madring is a hybrid street circuit built on the Ifema complex near the city’s international airport, and it hosts the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
How far behind is George Russell in the championship?
Russell heads into the Spanish Grand Prix 66 points behind Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who won at Monza from 19th on the grid.
With reporting from BBC Sport.
Stock image, not from the events described. 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series – São Paulo Indy 300 Alambrados do circuito – Catch fence of the circuit (26990532942) — Deni Williams from São Paulo, Brasil / Brazil / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)