Formula 1 Italian GP
Charles Leclerc on Lewis Hamilton clash: “Who is forcing that narrative?”
Leclerc suggests the media are pitting the Ferrari drivers against one another
Ben Vinel Cihangir Perperik
Edited: Sep 6, 2026, 3:25 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc says he doesn’t understand “who is forcing that narrative” of a Ferrari rivalry, after clashing with Formula 1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the Italian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari drivers were starting from the second row for the Prancing Horse’s home race; both of them took a decent getaway, but Hamilton pulled alongside Leclerc coming into Variante del Rettifilo – the first two corners of the track.
The seven-time world champion went for the inside, but Leclerc held on and got the inside line for Turn 2. Hamilton was still alongside, but Leclerc didn’t leave room for his team-mate. Racing guidelines allowed him to act this way, as cars overtaking on the outside need to be ahead at the apex in order to be entitled to racing room.
Still, Hamilton was furious as he ended up with two wheels on the gravel and lost many positions in the incident.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
However, when asked about the clash – within the wider context of Ferrari team-mate cooperation having been debated of late – Leclerc pushed back.
“I don't really know who is forcing that narrative that we are one against the other,” he retorted.
“I mean, honestly, Zandvoort, there was way too many talks already.” Back in the Dutch Grand Prix, there had been strategy confusion for both drivers; Leclerc had gone against Ferrari demands and delayed his pitstop, despite Hamilton being right behind him, as he deemed the strategy counterproductive for his own race.
Read Also:
Formula 1What Ferrari actually meant to do when Lewis Hamilton felt like a "guinea pig"
Formula 1What Charles Leclerc 'didn't understand' about Ferrari's Zandvoort F1 strategy
Still, the Monegasque admitted that the Monza incident was a poor look in front of the tifosi – especially as he ended up crashing out on the following lap.
“Here, it's true though that we went too far,” he said. “I think Lewis in Turn 1, then Turn 2, I tried to do the tightest corner possible, but that was just not enough – and doing it here is not good.”
Photos from F1 Italian GP - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
Formula 1
49
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Nico Rosberg: Ferrari backing Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc "doesn't make sense"
Next article Five quick takeaways from the F1 Italian GP
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Vinel
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
Formula 1 12 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
More from
Lewis Hamilton
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 20 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 d
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
More from
Ferrari
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 d
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Latest news
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
General
Misc General 1 h
Carson Hocevar and Cleetus McFarland win LeMullets 2026 in epic finish
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
7 h
TV ratings released for NASCAR Cup season finale
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
8 h
Chase Elliott's car chief leaves Hendrick for NASCAR Truck crew chief role
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe