Lewis Hamilton compared to Al Capone in extraordinary Ralf Schumacher attack

Former F1 star Ralf Schumacher has criticised Lewis Hamilton's handling of his incident with Charles Leclerc at Sunday's Mexico Grand Prix.

The pair clashed on track in Mexico City - and not for the first time this season - when Leclerc attempted a first lap overtake on his race-leading team-mate, forcing both of them off track and allowing Max Verstappen to follow Leclerc through past Hamilton.

Hamilton was audibly vexed by the move, repeating calls on team radio for his fellow Ferrari driver to receive a penalty for the incident and clinging onto that irritation long into the race.

When the race was red flagged for a period some 45 laps later, Hamilton ominously warned again on team radio: "We've got big problems. Big, big problems."

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Schumacher: Ferrari need urgent change after Mexico incident

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast after the race, six-time race winner said: "Lewis Hamilton accepted that if Charles Leclerc didn't drive over the grass, there would be a crash. That's intentional. But I have no problem with that, because it's a racing situation where nobody wants to give up their position."

He continued: "My problem is with the drama that followed. Demanding a penalty for your teammate over the radio is unacceptable. Then to speak like Al Capone and threaten that 'we have big, big problems' - in my view, that's just the dog walking its master. Something urgently needs to change."

The former Williams man went on to criticise Hamilton's attitude within Ferrari since the seven-time champion began to find his footing with the team, saying: "Lewis Hamilton is putting himself above the Ferrari brand. He's acting more like a team boss than a driver. I wouldn't tolerate that.

"I'd put both drivers in a sack, give them a piece of my mind, and explain to them how things are supposed to work at Ferrari. This can't go on. Both drivers ruined each other's race in that situation. Ferrari should have won in Mexico."

He added: "Lewis needs to ask himself what he actually wants. Is it just about him, or is it about the success of the entire team? Sometimes you get the feeling that everything revolves around him. The rivalry between Hamilton and Leclerc has gone a bit too far in recent races. It can't be that Ferrari suffers because both drivers are so stubborn."

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