Ted Kravitz thinks Lewis Hamilton sounded “stressed” speaking about the talks that he had with Ferrari about racing against Charles Leclerc ahead of the 2026 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Hamilton sat down with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur ahead of this week’s race in Brazil for clear-the-air talks after his on-track duel with teammate Leclerc in last Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix. But Leclerc was not present for the talks after flying home for the birth of his child.

Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari have not changed since his Mexico City GP clash with Charles Leclerc

Leclerc’s absence and Vasseur’s brief return to Maranello meant Hamilton and Ferrari did not hold in-depth discussions about the Mexico City GP. The Scuderia had required some level of talks as Leclerc “frustrated” Hamilton with how they fought in the Mexican capital last Sunday.

Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton took issue with how Leclerc gained the lead in Mexico City by leaving the track at Turn 4 and deciding to retain the position as he felt he could negate the 5s penalty that the stewards ultimately issued. Leclerc’s tactic almost paid off, too, but he fell behind Red Bull rival Max Verstappen after a slow pit stop and the Dutchman ultimately won.

A degree of tension still remains in the Ferrari garage ahead of the Sao Paulo GP, too, as they have not yet fully cleared the air between Hamilton and Leclerc. Hamilton also notes that he does not expect his situation with Leclerc at Ferrari to be fully resolved once they do speak.

“Naturally, I was frustrated, and I’m still frustrated,” Hamilton said, via quotes by Sky Sports. “So, the conversations need to be had, so we will have those when the time permits. There isn’t a plan at the moment, because we haven’t had a time to sit down, all face to face.

“I don’t think everything’s going to get squashed and sorted out in one meeting, but it is important [given that] what we build now will put us in the right position for next year.”

Hamilton added: “I think it’s about communication. It’s about understanding. I haven’t really tried to think what the meeting will be like, how it’s going to go – you never ever know.

“But what I will do is I’ll make sure I’m always just authentically me, and I won’t back down from taking responsibility for any part that I play and any decisions that I make for the team, and just continue to push.”

Ted Kravitz thinks Lewis Hamilton sounded ‘stressed’ about Ferrari’s clear-the-air talks

Kravitz felt Hamilton sounded “stressed” while he made his remarks about his situation at Ferrari and suggestions that nothing has changed regarding how he and Leclerc can battle each other on track. The internal duel at the Scuderia has been one of their major themes this year, and Kravitz suspects it lingers in Hamilton’s thoughts in his pursuit of an eighth title.

“Hamilton was more conciliatory, I think it’s probably fair to say, but also stressed that nothing has been decided,” Kravitz reflected on his Sky Sports podcast. “They will try and do things differently, not to lose races that they should have won, but really his focus is on winning the drivers’ championship and maybe even the constructors’ next year.”

Ferrari team principal Vasseur has so far refused to step in and stop Leclerc and Hamilton from fighting each other on the track, even at the overall expense of the team’s results, as he does not want to make one or the other the number one driver and thus the other the team’s No2.

But while nothing has yet changed between Hamilton and Leclerc, it is reported that Vasseur is considering enforcing new rules of engagement at Ferrari akin to the papaya rules that rivals McLaren embrace. While key factions within the Scuderia are believed to want to protect Leclerc, Vasseur is realising that his hands-off approach is not paying off after another incident.

Hamilton and Leclerc’s on track battles have raised questions about Vasseur’s refusal to use team orders since as early as round two in China. Back then, the pair fighting let Andrea Kimi Antonelli run clear, before also allowing George Russell to pull away for a Mercedes one-two.

Ferrari nearly cost Hamilton crucial race time during the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in round seven, as well. That time, however, the Scuderia potentially got away with their refusal to step in, as Antonelli had a battery failure while trying to hunt Hamilton down for the lead.

Round 10 in Belgium also raised questions about Ferrari’s refusal to use team orders to help Hamilton at Spa, knowing that doing so would have meant somewhat compromising Leclerc’s race. But the biggest flashpoint prior to the Mexico City GP in round 19/23 came in round 13, as Leclerc forced Hamilton off on Lap 1 of the Italian GP and likely cost Ferrari a home podium.