Leclerc admits he went too far in Turn 2 clash with Ferrari team-mate Hamilton at Monza

Charles Leclerc has taken full responsibility for the Turn 2 incident with Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, admitting he went “too far” and confirming the two drivers have resolved the matter in private.

The clash occurred at the opening chicane when Leclerc, running side by side with Hamilton, attempted to take the standard racing line on the exit of Turn 2 — squeezing Hamilton onto the gravel on the outside of the corner. In the immediate aftermath, Leclerc initially used the phrase “we went too far”, a framing Hamilton publicly rejected, stating there was “no ‘we’ in it” and directing criticism at Ferrari’s race communication and execution.

Following a review of the footage with team principal Fred Vasseur and a direct conversation with Hamilton, Leclerc shifted his position entirely. “After reviewing, we spoke with Lewis — I obviously know I went too far in Turn 2 and I said it to Lewis,” Leclerc said. “It’s very clear what we should do or should avoid going forward.”

Leclerc was keen to stress that the incident had not damaged his working relationship with Hamilton. “It definitely did not affect the good relationship that we have and it will not affect anything going forward. And that is the most important for me really.”

The Ferrari driver also acknowledged the particular sensitivity of the moment, given Monza’s status as the team’s home race. “If there’s one race where you don’t want that to happen, it’s Monza,” he said. “When these things happen at our home race, then it does a huge mess outside.”

Leclerc did, however, push back gently on the level of scrutiny the incident attracted relative to other team-mate friction elsewhere on the grid. “There’s been also some friction between other team-mates and the only thing we end up speaking of is Lewis and I, which I don’t think is quite right. But that doesn’t mean we did everything perfect — I didn’t in Turn 2.”

He described the subsequent conversation with Hamilton as constructive and said both drivers were able to align once the heat of the race had passed. “I think we fully agree with both of our views in hindsight when we speak without the emotions of the race,” Leclerc added. “It happens. It’s not the last time that will happen, I’m sure, because it’s the kind of things that happens in racing — particularly when we are starting so close to each other so often.”