Hamilton Voices Frustration After Miami Grand Prix

Following a lackluster showing at the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton directed a sarcastic remark towards his Ferrari team, suggesting their decision-making was too sluggish. He implied the team was slow in making essential calls during the race.

“Have a tea break while you’re at it,” Hamilton said via team radio. This expressed his dissatisfaction with the pit wall’s delayed responses during Sunday’s competition at Hard Rock Stadium, where McLaren’s Oscar Piastri excelled.

The British racer was obviously not pleased with the SF-25’s performance, particularly its resistance on the straightaways.

His main source of annoyance seemed to be his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, and their communication throughout the event.

Hamilton, who secured eighth place behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, seemed confused by Ferrari’s unhurried reactions and unclear strategic plans. This isn’t the first instance where he has questioned the input received from Adami.

Here’s a peek into Hamilton’s radio communications during the race:

  • Hamilton: “So hot here, mate. Just leave me to it now.”
  • Adami: “Understood. Soft 9 suggested. Soft 9.”
  • Hamilton: “Stop talking to me while I’m in frickin’ battle, man. Jeez.”
  • Hamilton: “I’m in the braking zone and you’re talking to me.”
  • Adami: “We need to recharge to attack.”
  • Hamilton: “God, so slow in the straights, man. It’s so draggy.”
  • Hamilton: “How is this pace? I can’t really go any quicker.”
  • Adami: “Now it’s 32.6, and Charles 32.7.”
  • Hamilton: “My tyres are pretty poor. A little understeer. I don’t know what to say.”
  • Hamilton: “Everyone ahead stopped, right?”
  • Adami: “Yep. Everyone ahead on hard. Russell on medium.”
  • Hamilton: “How long to go? Jesus Christ. We’re so slow today.”
  • Adami: “25 laps to go when you cross the line.”

After the race, the driver, now 40, explained that his remarks were influenced by the intensity of the moment.

“Fred [Vasseur] came to my room—I just put my hand on his shoulder and calmed down,” Hamilton stated. “It’s not good to be so sensitive. I could’ve expressed far worse sentiments on the radio. Some of what I said was sarcastic.”

“You’ve got to understand we’re under a significant amount of pressure inside the car. You’re never going to receive the most composed messages during the heat of competition,” he further noted.

It proved to be a disappointing weekend for Ferrari, as Leclerc finished seventh and Hamilton eighth—over a minute behind the race’s victor, Piastri.