Lewis Hamilton has called for Ferrari to introduce “written rules of engagement” after accusing team-mate Charles Leclerc of driving him off the track during Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
Hamilton started fourth but dropped to 10th at the end of the opening lap after running wide at the first chicane following a battle with Leclerc.
“Charles drove me off,” Hamilton said over the team radio.
Leclerc then crashed out on the second lap after losing control of his Ferrari at 160mph through the Curva Parabolica, while Hamilton recovered to third before eventually finishing sixth in a difficult home race for Ferrari.
Hamilton is now 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with 10 rounds remaining.
“Look I don’t race dirty, I have always raced clean and fairly and always left space, so I don’t think they should be worried about me,” said Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion said Ferrari needed clearer procedures between its drivers, pointing to his time at Mercedes where written rules were in place during his rivalry with Nico Rosberg.
“When I was at Mercedes we had written rules of engagement. And we never really had it too bad. There was a moment with me and Nico (Rosberg) a couple of times. But more often than not, it was good. Here there are no rules. And I think that’s something that needs to probably change.”
Hamilton said the issue ultimately needed to be addressed by Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and that discussions would be taken offline.
“I don’t want to get into arguing and fighting about my team. I’m trying my hardest to help this team get to where it needs to be,” he said.
Hamilton had entered Ferrari’s home race hoping to boost his outside title hopes, but Antonelli’s seventh victory of the season has opened up further daylight in the championship.
“It’s never over until it’s over,” Hamilton said. “I don’t know how many points it is now, but it’s an amount and with the pace that they (Mercedes) have, it is a very, very difficult amount to close up.”
He added that he was “massively gutted” for Ferrari’s home supporters and the team’s factory staff after failing to deliver a stronger result.
