MONZA — Lewis Hamilton has accused Ferrari of having "no rules" after a first-lap clash with his team-mate Charles Leclerc during the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton launched an aggressive move up the inside of Leclerc at the first corner but was forced off onto the gravel on the exit of the chicane as Leclerc held the inside line. Hamilton dropped from fourth to 10th and spent the rest of the race playing catch-up, eventually finishing sixth. Leclerc held third after the contact but then crashed out on the second lap, leaving Ferrari to suffer a dismal afternoon at their home race.

"I think it comes down to rules of engagement," said Hamilton, who joined Ferrari from Mercedes in 2025. "When I was at Mercedes, we had written rules of engagement. We never really, really had it too bad. There was a moment between me and Nico [Rosberg] a couple of times, but more often not, it was good. Here, there are no rules. We need to address that."

Split opinions on who was at fault

The incident divided the pundits. Sky Sports F1's Nico Rosberg insisted Leclerc was at fault, arguing Hamilton was ahead at one point towards the apex at Turn 2 and was therefore entitled to room.

"That's an easy one, because the rules are, if the driver on the outside, which in this case is Lewis, is ahead at some point towards the apex or during turn-in, the guy on the inside must leave room," said Rosberg. "It's very straightforward and simple. Lewis was ahead going in, so Charles has to leave room. And he didn't, so it was 100 per cent Charles' fault, and that's it."

Martin Brundle disagreed, noting Hamilton was aggressive into Turn 1 and Leclerc was in front at the apex of Turn 2.

"Leclerc was far enough ahead on the inside of the corner there. I don't think he would have taken a penalty," Brundle said. "Lewis dived down the inside of him into the first apex, fair enough, that's motor racing. Leclerc, I think at the apex, was far enough ahead, and on the inside by the way, which is another key element. Leclerc just understeers wide... I don't believe he would have been penalised."

Championship picture worsens

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed a stunning victory from 19th on the grid to extend his advantage over Hamilton to 76 points, while the Ferrari driver also fell 10 points behind George Russell as Mercedes completed a one-two. Asked whether he should now have priority over Leclerc, Hamilton replied: "We are too far past that already. It's too late for that now. I lost a lot of points today to those guys. We will do our best to keep pushing the rest of the season but they are out now, out ahead of us."

Vasseur insisted it was too early to prioritise one driver, pointing to McLaren's experience last year when Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris before being hauled in by both his team-mate and Max Verstappen.

"For sure, the outcome of the first corners is not good for the team," Vasseur said. "Now, to see if we have a team order or whatever, I think that the good comparison that I made was that last year, Piastri was leading McLaren at this stage of the season and if McLaren put everything on Piastri, Max Verstappen would have been champion. For sure, at one stage you have to take a decision but I think it was too early to take a decision before Monza."

'We went too far' — Leclerc

Leclerc admitted the pair had gone "too far" in their early battle but questioned who was "forcing" a narrative that pitted the team-mates against each other, referring to the previous race in Zandvoort when Hamilton was frustrated by being held up on different strategies.

"I don't really know who is forcing that narrative that we are one against the other," Leclerc said. "I mean, honestly, Zandvoort, there was way too many talks already. Here, it's true though that we went too far. I think Lewis in Turn 1, then Turn 2, I tried to do the tightest corner possible, but that was just not enough - and doing it here is not good."

Hamilton was also left frustrated by strategy, questioning the tyre choice after the early red flag and a decision not to pit him under a virtual safety car. Vasseur, however, argued Ferrari's lack of straight-line speed meant an extra stop would have been difficult.