Lewis Hamilton Urges Vasseur to Stay Calm After Heated Ferrari Radio Row During Miami Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has disclosed that he told Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur not to “be so sensitive” in the aftermath of a tense radio exchange during the Miami Grand Prix, where frustrations boiled over on team strategy and on-track decisions.
During Sunday’s race, Hamilton found himself rapidly catching teammate Charles Leclerc with superior pace but was not immediately allowed to pass and chase Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes for sixth position. The delay in Ferrari’s response led to a flurry of increasingly frustrated radio messages from Hamilton, who believed that the hesitation compromised his tyre performance and ultimately his race outcome.
Hamilton later reflected on the incident, saying he had lost a significant amount of time behind Leclerc and felt strongly in the moment that the team needed to act faster to avoid wasting precious race time. He admitted that some of his radio messages may not have been well received but explained that his comments were born out of pure frustration.
The two Ferrari drivers had started on different strategies, with Hamilton—who had made his way up from 12th on the grid—running on the faster medium compound tyres after the sole round of pit stops, while Leclerc was on the more durable hards. Once both drivers cleared Carlos Sainz in a tightly contested corner, Hamilton immediately urged the Ferrari pit wall to swap the cars, believing he had the pace to attack Antonelli.
Initially, the team instructed him to hold position, assuring him they would maintain him within DRS range of the Monegasque driver. Lewis Hamilton pushed back over the radio, calling the decision “not good teamwork” and referencing the Chinese Grand Prix, where he had willingly yielded position to Leclerc when roles were reversed. Eventually, Ferrari allowed the switch, but by then Hamilton felt the tyres had already degraded significantly. His sarcastic remark—”Have a tea break while you’re at it, come on!”—was broadcast shortly before the team gave the green light.
Despite the switch, Lewis Hamilton was unable to significantly reduce Kimi Antonelli’s advantage, and with just a few laps to go, the team requested he let Charles Leclerc back through. Lewis Hamilton complied but not before quipping if they also wanted him to allow Carlos Sainz past, when informed of the time gap to the Williams behind.
Speaking after the race, Lewis Hamilton revealed he had a brief exchange with Fred Vasseur, who visited his driver’s room before the media duties. Lewis Hamilton recalled placing a hand on Fred Vasseur’s shoulder and telling him to stay calm, adding that he shouldn’t be so sensitive about the radio chatter. He emphasized that his comments could have been much more critical and noted that in the heat of battle, emotional and sarcastic radio messages were inevitable. He urged understanding, pointing out the immense pressure drivers experience during races.
The seven-time world champion also addressed the wider context of his frustration, pointing to Ferrari’s disappointing performance so far this season. His highly publicized move from Mercedes to the Scuderia has yet to yield the expected results. Outside of a Sprint pole and win in China, Hamilton’s tenure with Ferrari has been plagued by underwhelming race results, with a fifth-place finish in Bahrain still his best grand prix outcome. In Miami, both Hamilton and Leclerc were off the pace in qualifying, contributing to another low point in Ferrari’s season.
Hamilton explained that the root of his irritation lay in the team’s continued struggles, and he made it clear he wouldn’t apologise for showing passion. He said he still had a burning desire to win and that the weekend had reignited that competitive fire. He insisted he wasn’t being disrespectful, but simply pushing hard for better results. He expressed confidence that once Ferrari addressed the car’s key issues, they would be back competing with Mercedes and Red Bull. He added that changes were already in motion, and the next race would involve some different approaches as the team sought progress.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc also shared his thoughts post-race. Although calmer over the radio, he too questioned the team’s decisions during the Miami GP. The Monegasque acknowledged that the situation had been difficult and said that while he preferred not to delve too deeply into the controversy, it was clear the race hadn’t been managed the way it should have. He stated that internal discussions would take place to ensure improvements moving forward.
The 27-year-old driver also made it clear that he held no ill feelings toward Hamilton, emphasizing the need for collective improvement rather than pointing fingers. He reaffirmed his commitment to pushing for a better team and a more competitive car, stressing that everyone at Ferrari was working hard to get back to the front.
As Ferrari continues to grapple with a season that has so far fallen short of expectations, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are united in calling for sharper strategy, stronger communication, and urgent progress. The team faces growing pressure to deliver the performance that its drivers—and fans—believe is still possible.
Leave a Reply