Vasseur airs frustrations over Ferrari intra-team clash in Mexico City

Fred Vasseur has spoken of his frustration at the first-lap fight between his two drivers in Mexico City, in a race that ended with Hamilton second and Leclerc fourth. Max Verstappen won for Red Bull.

Vasseur said the track layout was not helping, but could not be an excuse. He said Ferrari had run one-two at Turn 4 and that a team in that position does not expect to lose the race.

What Vasseur said about respect

Asked about a pre-race discussion on first-lap protocol, Vasseur said his only message was about respect. He said the drivers work for a group, for sponsors and for the roughly 2,000 people at the company, who had worked night and day on upgrades.

Giving the place back

Leclerc had said he wanted clearer direction from the pit wall on whether to give the position back. Vasseur said the call was not easy and that the team spoke to race control. He said the position had to be returned before Turn 11 and that there is a delay of about five seconds between the video and what is happening on track.

He added that the regulation is clear and that Ferrari agreed before the race that the drivers would do it themselves. Leclerc took the lead across the grass at Turn 4 and was later given a five-second penalty.

Hamilton's radio message and what comes next

Vasseur declined to interpret Hamilton's team radio comment about big problems after the red flag, saying he would speak to the drivers first.

• Vasseur said the performance step forward is where his frustration comes from.
• He said Ferrari scored more points than its rivals for the third or fourth race in a row.
• The team plans to discuss the incident that night and move on to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which follows in four days.

Vasseur said six, seven or eight drivers can win a race in the first season of the new regulations, which he called good for Formula 1.