Ferrari eases tensions as Hamilton calls for better teamwork

Charles Leclerc has accepted responsibility for the Turn 2 incident at Monza that sent Lewis Hamilton into the gravel. The two drivers spoke after the race and say they have moved on. Leclerc, who subsequently suffered a heavy crash, underwent several checks and received treatment for neck pain. He says he is fully fit for Madrid.

Hamilton trails Antonelli by 76 points, compared with Leclerc's 112, but says he is not asking for preferential treatment. His priority is better coordination between the two cars to turn, for example, fourth and fifth places into a podium, without losing points in battles between team-mates.

That willingness to cooperate does not resolve the performance deficit. Ferrari has yet to take a pole position in 2026. Hamilton estimates that Mercedes gained around six tenths per lap on the straights at Monza, despite Ferrari's recent engine upgrade. The Madring demands more downforce, which could change the competitive picture. But with drivers expecting overtaking to be difficult, Ferrari will also need a stronger qualifying performance to get ahead.