An insider has revealed that one Formula 1 driver's relationship with his own team may have turned sour following events transpiring at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli became the youngest ever F1 champion after securing P3, but tension in a rival team appeared to boil over, suggesting a frosty relationship behind the scenes.

Antonelli, in just his second season in F1, became the Drivers' Championship winner with four races to spare, and at just 20 years old he is the youngest driver to achieve the feat.

The Italian was hoisted onto the shoulders of the two most decorated drivers on the grid in Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, with whom he shared the podium after the pair finished P1 and P2 respectively.

It was an image that will likely live long in the history books, a passing of the torch from two of the greatest drivers in F1 history to the new rookie on the block.

Antonelli was just two years of age when Hamilton became the youngest F1 champion in 2008, fast-forward 18 years and the pair are sharing the podium in the Mercedes driver's crowning moment.

However, the conclusion of the Mexican Grand Prix was not entirely wholesome, with an undercurrent of controversy surrounding Ferrari and in particular, Lewis Hamilton.

Driver 'Not Well Liked' at Current Team

F1 journalist Piergiuseppe Donadoni has made explosive claims accusing the seven-time world champion of playing a political game behind the scenes in an attempt to wrestle power from Ferrari and Charles Leclerc.

He told AutocRacer: “From what I gather, Hamilton is not very liked at Ferrari. His behaviour is almost the complete opposite of what the staff and engineers expect. The way he carries himself hasn’t exactly endeared him to anyone.

“Hamilton is very skilled at playing politics. For years, he’s had the backing of the press - especially the British media - which has helped him push specific narratives."

Mexico Grand Prix Drama Causes Tense Atmosphere

The moment that sparked these tensions occurred on the very first lap, after Leclerc took an aggressive line into turn four, attempting to overtake his teammate, with the pair running in first and second.

Hamilton was forced off the track, allowing Verstappen to overtake, while Leclerc was forced to cut the corner and eventually concede the race lead after being handed a five-second penalty.

Veteran driver Hamilton was fuming over the team radio and did not hold back with the media post-race as he questioned his teammate's mentality.

The 41-year-old said: “Ultimately, it was that, that lost us the win today, and, yeah, I think we have to have some serious talks behind the scenes, for sure.

“The guy is 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. Either I win or none of us do,’ and it shouldn’t be that.”

Donadoni claims that Hamilton's antics with the media are a ploy for political leverage, and a tactic he has used throughout his career.

He said: “He’s a master of politics. He played the political game against [Fernando] Alonso and, in that regard, completely dismantled him that season.”

Hamilton has had his fair share of spats with teammates, most notably at McLaren with Alonso and with his former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

However, he has been forthright in recent years that these experiences have made him a better teammate, and asserted that his disappointment over the Mexican Grand Prix was about team success rather than solely his own.

He said in his post-race conference: "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."

Whatever the sentiment, Donadoni claims Leclerc has been left fuming by comments, suggesting the pair's relationship risks turning frosty.