Lewis Hamilton shared that he told Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur to not “be so sensitive” after a radio disagreement occurred between the driver and the team during the Miami Grand Prix.
Hamilton got frustrated during Sunday`s race because he was faster than his teammate Charles Leclerc and caught up to him, but wasn`t immediately allowed to pass to try and overtake Kimi Antonelli`s Mercedes for sixth place.
The seven-time world champion sent several radio messages showing his frustration as the pit wall delayed, initially refused, and then finally approved his request. By that time, Hamilton believed his tires had lost too much performance.
Hamilton commented, “I lost significant time stuck behind Charles. In that moment, naturally, I was thinking, `Come on, make a quick decision, let`s not waste time.`” He added, “I`m sure some comments weren`t well-received, but you have to realize, it`s frustrating.”
The two Ferrari drivers started on different tire types. Hamilton, who had started 12th, was using the faster medium tires after the pit stops, while Leclerc was on hard tires. After they both overtook Carlos Sainz at the same corner to reach seventh and eighth positions, Hamilton immediately asked the team over the radio to swap their positions.
He was initially told to wait. Ferrari then informed him they would keep things as they were, ensuring he stayed within DRS range of Leclerc. Hamilton reacted angrily on the radio, calling it “not good teamwork.” He then brought up the Chinese Grand Prix, where he had offered to let Leclerc pass when his teammate was faster behind him.
Ferrari eventually reversed their decision and swapped the cars. Around this time, a radio message from Hamilton was broadcast, saying, “Have a tea break while you`re at it, come on!” Hamilton felt his tires had degraded significantly while stuck behind Leclerc, and he couldn`t significantly close the gap to Antonelli. Later, he was instructed to let Leclerc pass him back in the final laps. After complying, Hamilton sarcastically inquired if the team also wanted him to “let Sainz through as well,” after being told the gap to the following Williams.
Speaking to reporters in Miami, Hamilton was asked if he had spoken to team principal Vasseur before his post-race interviews. He responded, “Fred came to my room. I just put my hand on his shoulder and said, `Dude, calm down. Don`t be so sensitive.`” He clarified, “I could have said much worse things on the radio. You hear what other drivers have said before. Some of it was sarcasm.” He emphasized, “You have to understand, we are under immense pressure in the car. You won`t always get the calmest messages during the intensity of the race.”
I Won`t Apologize for Being a Fighter!
Hamilton`s start with Ferrari has been highly frustrating following his significant move from Mercedes after 12 years. Apart from a Sprint pole and win in China (the second race), his partnership with the sport`s most renowned team has had a difficult beginning. His best Grand Prix result was fifth in Bahrain. Miami marked a new low for Ferrari, a team expected to compete for championships this year, as both Hamilton and Leclerc faced significant struggles in qualifying.
Hamilton clarified that much of his frustration on the radio during Sunday`s race stemmed from the team`s overall difficulties and asserted that he wouldn`t apologize for “being a fighter.” He stated, “I don`t know what you`ll write, whether you think I was disrespectful or something similar. Honestly, I don`t feel I was.” He continued, “I was simply thinking, `Come on, guys. I want to win.` I still have that competitive drive. I could feel it emerging in that moment, and I won`t apologize for being a fighter, nor for still wanting to succeed.”
He added, “I know everyone in the team feels the same. I genuinely believe that once we resolve some issues with the car, we can compete again with Mercedes and the Red Bulls.” He concluded, “It just can`t happen soon enough. We`ll try a different approach at the next race and continue refining our procedures. I look forward to a time when I might contend for a podium – that would be great.”
Leclerc: No Hard Feelings Towards Lewis
Leclerc had generally outperformed Hamilton in the preceding three races but also faced significant difficulties in Miami, giving gloomy interviews on Friday and Saturday. In this instance, the Monegasque driver was calmer than Hamilton on the radio but also expressed concerns about the team`s decision-making.
Leclerc commented, “It`s a tough situation. I`ll unfortunately give the unexciting answer and won`t comment extensively.” He added, “Clearly, this isn`t how we want to manage a race. We`ll discuss it internally to make improved decisions.” He emphasized, “There are absolutely no hard feelings towards Lewis. As a team, we simply need to improve, and today demonstrated that.” He concluded, “I`m doing my utmost, giving everything I have for us to become a better team, have a better car, and perform better. That`s our main focus.”
Marcus Prine