Leclerc accepts blame for Monza clash with Hamilton

Charles Leclerc has accepted responsibility for his opening-lap clash with Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Italian Grand Prix, saying he told Hamilton directly that he went too far after reviewing the incident. Speaking at a press conference in Madrid ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Leclerc said the two drivers have since held clear-the-air talks and that their relationship remains intact. The incident occurred at the start of the race at Monza, where Hamilton attempted to pass Leclerc around the outside of the opening chicane. Leclerc held his line through Turn 2 and took the conventional exit, leaving Hamilton with nowhere to go but onto the gravel. Hamilton complained on team radio that he had been pushed off and lost several positions, eventually finishing sixth. The FIA stewards took no further action. Immediately after the race, following his own crash at the Parabolica, Leclerc suggested that both drivers had gone too far. Hamilton rejected that framing, saying there was no collective responsibility involved, and criticized Ferrari's communication and race execution.