Charles Leclerc Ferrari contract detail emerges which changes everything about Lewis Hamilton saga
Charles Leclerc has a clause in his Ferrari contract that would “prevent” the team from introducing Lewis Hamilton’s proposed written rules of engagement, a journalist has claimed.
The Mexico Grand Prix saw Hamilton's first pole position in 1,197 days undone on the opening lap as Leclerc charged through, cutting across the grass at Turn 4, while the Briton lost out to Max Verstappen.
Although Hamilton ultimately overtook Leclerc to finish second behind Verstappen, the incident has reignited the debate around Ferrari's lack of clear rules of engagement.
Advert
Charles Leclerc has unique clause in Ferrari contract
According to journalist Marc Limacher, Leclerc has had a clause in his contract since 2020 that would prevent the team from introducing written rules of engagement.
F1 journalist Limacher wrote on X: “I hear that Charles Leclerc has had a preferential equity clause (sportive and technique) in his contract since 2020.
“This would prevent the establishment of written engagement rules.”
Hamilton had called on Ferrari to introduce rules of engagement following a collision with Leclerc at September's Italian Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old insisted at the time that Ferrari had "no rules" and demanded that "rules of engagement" - like the ones he had at Mercedes - were required.
And the Briton again insisted Ferrari needed to hold discussions after the latest incident in Mexico City.
"We have to have some serious talks behind the scenes for sure," Hamilton said via PA Media. "I think the core thing to remember, which maybe comes with age, is that every decision you make in the car impacts all the people that work in the background for the whole team.
"Working as a team is a part of our job and a part of our contract. We could have easily done that today.
"This will just continue unless action is taken, unless a real deep, serious conversation is had. So, it shouldn't happen moving forward.
"Of course, the frustrations... Today I'm happy because this guy [Antonelli] just won the championship and on the other side, I'm really p----d."
Why does Lewis Hamilton want rules of engagement?
Hamilton believes Ferrari lacks a sufficiently clear framework to govern how he and Leclerc compete, and wants clearer boundaries between the two drivers.
At the Mexico Grand Prix, Leclerc retained his position after cutting across the track, despite Hamilton believing he should have handed it back.
Hamilton argued that Ferrari had potentially sacrificed a one-two finish because the two drivers were not prioritising the team's interests.
Hamilton explained via Sky Sports: "Before I joined this team, when I was in Mercedes, I watched and witnessed the back and forth between Charles and Carlos [Sainz] for several races where they were battling so much that the person ahead just pulled away, and they had the pace to actually win the race.
"But it's one thing when that's happening for fourth and fifth, as opposed to first and second, and you lose the win. That's significant.
"The guy's 28 years old, so I don't think it's an age thing. I think it's a mentality thing. It's like 'do or die. Like either I win or none of us do', and it shouldn't be that. It should be us getting that one-two because it's still a good feeling.
"Silverstone, I could have gone all kamikaze on him and taken him off and lost us the win but instead it was first and third.
"For me, I'm happy for the team to have experienced that. But I'm hopeful we'll work towards a better working place in the future."
Read next: Charles Leclerc aims subtle dig at Lewis Hamilton in first message since Mexico City GP controversy
Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc
Chris Byfield
