Verstappen Points Out Ferrari's Dilemma After Hamilton-Leclerc Tangle

Max Verstappen has weighed in on the incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the Mexico City Grand Prix, which he believes underscores the pitfalls of having 'two number one drivers' in a team. The clash between the Ferrari duo on the opening lap allowed Verstappen to slide into the lead and ultimately secure his sixth win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Starting from fifth, Verstappen quickly moved past Lando Norris and a slowing George Russell to find himself in third, right behind Hamilton and Leclerc. The Dutchman was poised to take advantage when Leclerc's attempt to overtake Hamilton around the outside at Turn 4 resulted in both drivers going wide.

Verstappen executed a clever switchback on Hamilton, setting himself up to take the lead once Leclerc served a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage off-track. This wasn't the first time this season that Leclerc has been involved in a tight situation—Hamilton noted the lack of clear rules at Ferrari after a similar incident at the Italian Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who has enjoyed a stable position at Red Bull, pointed out the challenges faced by teams with equally competitive drivers. "It was a very tough race," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. "We did everything well as a team. They are two number one drivers, so they always go for it, but I think today it cost them the win."

Hamilton expressed post-race that Ferrari had the pace to win if not for the in-team skirmish, a sentiment Verstappen echoed. "The team gave me the right strategy," Verstappen said, "pitting with Charles and overtaking him in the pit stop because of the penalty. Ferrari was really fast today, but fighting each other made it difficult for them."

Verstappen acknowledged the fierce competition from Hamilton, who was close behind until the very end. "Lewis was flat-out in my gearbox, so I couldn’t afford to make a mistake," he added, reflecting on the intense battle that characterized the race.