Ferrari boss launches Hamilton vs Leclerc investigation after 'huge disrespect'

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has raged at the 'huge disrespect' for the iconic F1 team after the Lewis Hamilton vs Charles Leclerc rivalry boiled over once again during Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix.

Two months after their high-profile skirmish in the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix, we got what amounted to a repeat viewing at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton demands Ferrari showdown talks after Leclerc drama

The incident happened after a dramatic start to the 71-lap race, with Hamilton starting on pole and Leclerc one row behind him in P3.

By the time the two Ferrari drivers got to turn one, Hamilton had kept his lead, with Leclerc close behind him in P2. Heading into turn four, Leclerc tried to make his move once again, going around the outside, but ultimately running off the track and therefore cutting the corner at turn five.

Leclerc gained first place as a result of this, and while Hamilton also went off track after turn four, he made it back between the white lines for turn five rather than cutting the corner and yielded second position to Max Verstappen.

READ MORE: Mercedes left to pay FIA penalty after George Russell absence at Mexican GP

Hamilton fury at Leclerc actions

Hamilton was unsurprisingly furious as he told race engineer Carlo Santi "got pushed out by my own team-mate".

Leclerc was handed a five-second time penalty by the stewards, but it did little to calm the tensions inside the Ferrari garage, with Hamilton later demanding showdown talks.

Team principal Vasseur, who has come under fire in recent weeks for the apparent lack of clear rules of engagement between his two drivers, was clearly fuming as he addressed media after the race.

Vasseur fumes in post-race media briefing

He raged: “I think it's a huge disrespect for the brand, for all the people who work in Maranello, and for the efforts we're making.

"We've made a real step forward in terms of performance, and throwing away a victory like this is hard to accept."

'I want to talk to both of them'

Vasseur said he was not apportioning blame at this stage, but would be speaking to both of his drivers as he investigates the high-profile flashpoint.

"I'm not pointing fingers at anyone; I want to talk to both of them. When you start first and third in Mexico, where no one has overtaken for 72 years, you don't expect to finish second and fourth.”

Hamilton is contracted to Ferrari at least through 2027, while Leclerc signed a long-term extension at Maranello earlier this year.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton blasts FIA stewards over Leclerc decision as Mexican GP stopped after 200mph crash