Fresh onboard footage from the Mexican Grand Prix has finally exposed the truth behind the fiery first-lap clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc — and it’s causing quite a stir in the paddock. The pair’s collision unfolded in the opening seconds of a chaotic race that saw multiple cars veer off track, yet it is only now that fans and analysts have been given clarity on who truly triggered the Ferrari fallout.
While McLaren’s Lando Norris dominated the headlines with a masterful drive to victory, all eyes soon turned to the dramatic Ferrari drama that unfolded just behind him. Both Hamilton and Leclerc launched from the front row, with tension immediately simmering as the teammates went side-by-side into Turn One. Leclerc darted off the track to avoid contact, only to rejoin the circuit ahead — a move that raised eyebrows but somehow escaped FIA sanction.
Hamilton, however, didn’t share the FIA’s leniency. Furious over the lack of penalty for his teammate, the seven-time world champion was heard venting frustration over team radio, accusing both Ferrari and race control of “double standards.” His anger deepened after onboard footage from George Russell’s Mercedes camera surfaced — footage that clearly showed Leclerc could have made the corner safely without leaving the track. In other words, the Monegasque’s off-track escape wasn’t as unavoidable as he claimed.
The fallout didn’t stop there. While Leclerc walked away unpunished, Hamilton found himself slapped with a brutal 10-second penalty for a later skirmish with Max Verstappen — an incident where he too left the track while battling for position. The FIA’s reasoning? Gaining an advantage. The irony wasn’t lost on fans, nor on Hamilton himself, who called the ruling “nuts” and accused officials of inconsistency.
Speaking post-race, Hamilton didn’t hold back: “I feel very let down by the governing body. Verstappen went off too, and nothing. But I’m the one who gets penalized — it’s double standards.” With that, a race that began in chaos ended in controversy, reigniting one of Formula 1’s oldest debates — consistency in FIA decision-making — and leaving Ferrari’s garage divided between relief and regret.
