Hamilton Ferrari Talks: Leclerc Skips Sao Paulo FP1

Lewis Hamilton wants Ferrari talks about his Mexico City run-in with Charles Leclerc, but the meeting cannot happen yet. Leclerc stayed in Monaco for the birth of his first child, and team principal Frederic Vasseur was in Europe, so the two drivers have not sat down ahead of the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix (Round 20, Interlagos, race on 8 November 2026).

What did Hamilton say about the Ferrari talks?

Speaking on Thursday 5 November 2026, Hamilton said the issue needs to be addressed properly. Per Formula1.com, he believes Ferrari "should have easily had a 1-2" in Mexico after he and Leclerc went side by side on lap one. Hamilton had started from pole. Leclerc was handed a penalty for cutting the track, and Hamilton ended up behind Max Verstappen, who won.

Sky Sports reports that Hamilton called for "serious talks" and said Leclerc races him harder than other rivals. He also accepted his own share of responsibility, and said one meeting will not fix everything.

Why is Leclerc missing from Ferrari's first practice?

Leclerc is not in the car for opening practice. Ferrari is giving FP1 to Dino Beganovic, and ScuderiaFans reports that Leclerc is expected to land in Sao Paulo on Friday in time for FP2. That outlet is the only one we have for the arrival plan, so treat the timing as reported, not confirmed.

The absence is personal, not political. It does mean the first face-to-face between the two Ferrari drivers will probably come inside a race weekend, with qualifying on Saturday and the grand prix on Sunday close behind.

Why it matters for the 2026 championship

Antonelli has already clinched the drivers' title, so the fight is for the places behind him. According to Formula1.com, Verstappen is second, two points ahead of Hamilton. That makes a Ferrari one-two worth far more to Hamilton than a tidy apology.

Hamilton has framed the clash as a lesson for 2027: Ferrari needs agreed rules of engagement if it wants to fight for a title. That is a sensible argument. It is also the one Ferrari has needed since Monza, where Leclerc apologised after a first-lap collision that sent Hamilton onto the gravel, as Sky Sports notes.

Our own numbers back up how close the pair are. Our Hamilton vs Leclerc breakdown shows them split by 21 points after 17 rounds, with Leclerc ahead on the grid more often. When two drivers are that evenly matched, the first corner is where the argument gets settled.

What happens next?

Ferrari has not issued a formal statement that we could find. Hamilton said the drivers will sit down with Vasseur, but there is no fixed time. Watch FP2 and qualifying for the first signs of how the two share the track, and follow the live standings to see whether the points gap to Verstappen moves.

Think Hamilton gets the better of Leclerc on Sunday? Make your prediction for the Sao Paulo GP.