Overview
- Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc held private talks and an hour-long meeting with team principal Fred Vasseur in São Paulo on Thursday evening and both said the matter is resolved.
- Hamilton told Sky Sports that his one-to-one talk with Leclerc 'squashed' the tension and that no demands were made by either driver during discussions.
- The opening-lap clash in last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix saw Leclerc run Hamilton off track, earned Leclerc a five-second penalty and handed Max Verstappen the win, a result Ferrari says it cannot repeat.
- Vasseur reiterated a 'Ferrari comes first' message but has refused to introduce formal written 'rules of engagement', instead urging mutual respect and professional conduct.
- Both drivers face grid penalties for the São Paulo race with Hamilton starting from the back after multiple power-unit changes and Leclerc dropping 10 places, while former drivers and pundits continue to question Ferrari's long-term control of intra-team rivalry.