Hamilton and Leclerc tangled on the opening lap at Mexico City, with Leclerc cutting across the second chicane to take the lead from pole position. Hamilton ran wide defending, then lost second to Verstappen at Turn Five. Leclerc picked up a five-second penalty for running off track and gaining an advantage at Turn Four. Verstappen took over the lead when Leclerc served the penalty and won the race. Hamilton finished second, ahead of Leclerc who ended up fourth.
In the post-race press conference, Hamilton said Ferrari needed serious talks behind the scenes. He questioned Leclerc's mentality on the opening lap, saying: "I think it's a mentality thing. It's like 'do or die. Like either I win or none of us do', and it shouldn't be that." Hamilton added the team lost the win and championship points because they didn't work together. He said there were no pre-race discussions about how to approach the first lap from first and third on the grid.
Leclerc defended his driving, telling Sky Sports he always goes for it when there's a gap. He said his instinct was to give Hamilton the position back after running off track, but Verstappen was already between them. He acknowledged Hamilton "definitely hated those first few laps" and they would discuss what happened.
Verstappen said Ferrari's internal battle cost them the win. "They are two No 1 drivers so they always go for it, but I think today it cost them the win," he told Sky Sports.