Brundle Calls Leclerc's Move 'Foolish', Hamilton Ready to Exploit Ferrari Turmoil
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- Martin Brundle menilai aksi Charles Leclerc memepet Lewis Hamilton di Meksiko sebagai keputusan keliru yang berujung pada kemenangan Max Verstappen.
- Hamilton memanfaatkan momen tersebut untuk menekan race control dan tim Ferrari, sementara Brundle menyebut sikap blak-blakan pembalap Inggris itu sebagai strategi sadar.
- Ketegangan internal Ferrari berpotensi memengaruhi performa tim di Grand Prix Brasil, dengan kedua pembalap berusaha membuktikan dominasi.
The contact incident between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on the first lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix still leaves controversy in its wake. Martin Brundle, a former Formula 1 driver now working as a Sky Sports commentator, judged that Leclerc's decision to keep his position off the track was not merely an ordinary infringement, but a tactical error that harmed his own team.
Brundle, speaking at Interlagos ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, highlighted how Leclerc's maneuver—crowding Hamilton off the track at Turn 4—actually opened the way for Max Verstappen to seize victory. According to him, what Leclerc did was an aggressive act disproportionate toward his own teammate. "It wasn't the smartest move of Charles's career. It was 75-25 against his teammate, and clearly not a wise decision," Brundle said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
The incident sparked Hamilton's anger, clearly visible over the team radio. The 39-year-old driver openly questioned the logic of the five-second penalty handed to Leclerc, even calling the punishment disproportionate to the positional advantage gained. Several observers, including Ralf Schumacher, criticized Hamilton for airing internal problems in public. But Brundle has a different view.
"Lewis is at a stage of his career where he will speak without a filter. He is not interested in playing it safe for the sake of public relations," Brundle said.
According to Brundle, Hamilton's radio remarks were not merely an emotional outburst, but a measured form of psychological pressure. By highlighting the weakness of the penalty system, Hamilton indirectly pressured race control as well as Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. The aim was clear: to ensure a similar incident would not recur and to strengthen his position inside the garage.
For Ferrari, the situation is a test of cohesion. Leclerc and Hamilton are both drivers with big ambitions, and friction on track like this can damage team harmony. Brundle even suggested that a closed-door meeting at the pit wall might not be enough to ease the tension. The two will be back in action at the Interlagos circuit, where the weather often changes and competition grows tighter.
Interestingly, the incident also highlights the power dynamics within the team. Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season, seems unwilling to lose momentum as a senior driver. Meanwhile Leclerc, long Maranello's golden boy, feels the need to show that he too has teeth. Brundle judged that Hamilton recognized the opening from Leclerc's mistake and used it to take over psychological control in the garage.
For F1 fans in Indonesia, the tension at Ferrari is compelling viewing. Moreover, this season has also been marked by tight competition between teams, and every incident can affect the final standings. Ferrari needs to ease the tension quickly if it wants to stay in contention at the top. This weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix will be the stage for proof: can Leclerc and Hamilton work together, or will they clash again on track?
With the season remaining ever shorter, every point is precious. If Ferrari fails to manage the egos of its two drivers, their chances in the constructors' championship could well vanish. Brundle himself concluded that Hamilton has seen the opportunity to pressure Leclerc, and he will not waste it. The ball is now in Vasseur's court to ensure the drama within the team does not continue.
