Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari team attracted considerable attention at the Miami Grand Prix following the seven-time world champion`s visibly frustrated radio exchanges.
Employing a different tire strategy compared to his teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton found himself quickly closing the gap to the Monegasque driver shortly after the race`s sole round of pit stops. His frustration mounted when he wasn`t immediately given clearance to pass and challenge Kimi Antonelli`s Mercedes for sixth position.
Hamilton sent several radio transmissions expressing his annoyance as the pit wall deliberated, initially rejected, and eventually approved his request. By the time permission was granted, Hamilton felt his tires had lost crucial performance.
His remarks included suggesting the team`s decision-making was “not good teamwork” and drawing a parallel to the Chinese Grand Prix, where he quickly allowed a faster Leclerc to pass.
During Ferrari`s hesitation, Hamilton`s messages became sarcastic, famously including: “Have a tea break while you`re at it, come on!”
Later in the race, when asked by the team to allow Leclerc to re-pass as the Monegasque showed stronger pace, Hamilton sarcastically inquired if they also wanted him to “let [Carlos] Sainz through as well,” referencing the Williams car behind the Ferraris.
After the race, Hamilton downplayed the interactions, mentioning he had told Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur not to “be so sensitive” about the radio messages.
“I could have said way worse things on the radio. You hear some of the things other people have said in the past. Some of it was sarcasm,” Hamilton stated, declining to apologize for his comments. He emphasized the intense pressure drivers face during a race, noting that it`s unrealistic to expect completely “peaceful messages” in the heat of battle.
What Caused Hamilton`s “Sassy and Sarcastic” Tone?
Speaking on The F1 Show, Sky Sports F1`s Ted Kravitz analyzed Hamilton`s communication style, suggesting three potential reasons for his sarcastic tone:
- **Scenario 1:** Hamilton feels secure and comfortable within the team environment, confident enough to express himself without fear of negative repercussions.
- **Scenario 2:** He is genuinely unhappy with aspects of the team`s operations (specifically strategy) and is attempting to push for improvements and sharper interactions between the strategy department and race engineers.
- **Scenario 3:** Hamilton is unhappy overall and has reached a point where he is less concerned about criticizing the team, although Kravitz expressed doubt about this particular scenario.
Kravitz also highlighted that this incident marked Hamilton`s first significant encounter with Ferrari`s often-discussed strategy delays, characterized by the team`s response “we`ll get back to you.”
Analysis discussing Ferrari`s race strategy frustration
Who Were the “You Guys” Hamilton Was Unhappy With?
Martin Brundle of Sky Sports F1 noted Hamilton`s use of the phrase “you guys,” which Ted Kravitz believes was directed at Ferrari`s strategy department, led by Ravin Jain, rather than Hamilton`s personal race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
Kravitz explained this distinction by pointing out that Ferrari`s strategy department is quite separate from the race engineers, who have limited autonomy on strategic decisions. This compartmentalization, he suggested, contrasts with more integrated teams like McLaren. Kravitz questioned why Ferrari wasn`t better prepared for a scenario involving Hamilton starting on hard tires and switching to mediums, suggesting the strategy team should have anticipated this.
Discussion on the Miami Grand Prix highlights
Brundle: Ferrari Needs Caution, Not Impulsive Change
Brundle suggested that a deeper reason for Hamilton`s frustration lies in Ferrari`s underwhelming start to his debut season with the Scuderia.
Following Hamilton`s high-profile transfer after 12 years at Mercedes, Ferrari was widely expected to contend for the championship, especially after a strong performance the previous year. However, they have not genuinely challenged for victory in any of the opening six full races, with Charles Leclerc`s podium in Saudi Arabia being their sole top-three finish so far.
Brundle found the sarcasm and Lewis`s apparent upset “quite telling.” He remarked that Hamilton must have been “really frustrated” during the race, spending a significant number of laps behind a customer Haas car, which was “not where Lewis expected to be this year.”
Despite Ferrari`s current struggles, particularly as they approach their home race at Imola, Brundle advised against hasty decisions. He cautioned the team not to “behave like a football team and fire the manager… and change for the sake of change,” arguing that such impulsive actions wouldn`t improve the situation.
Brundle emphasized that Ferrari`s primary concern should be their actual performance level, noting that they appeared to be only the fifth-fastest team at times. He concluded that “heavy conversations” are undoubtedly taking place within the team to address their performance.
Video discussing Hamilton and Leclerc`s strategy interactions in Miami
