Ferrari Team Principal Discusses Controversial Team Radio Incident with F1…… read more
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has initiated talks with Formula 1 (F1) officials over a controversial radio message incident that took place during the Chinese Grand Prix. The controversy revolves around a mid-race radio exchange between Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, which was broadcast by Formula One Management (FOM).
During the race, the two Ferrari drivers were instructed to swap positions after it was determined that Leclerc had better pace and a higher chance of catching the leaders. Leclerc ultimately finished fifth, with Hamilton in sixth. However, both drivers were disqualified after the race for separate technical regulation breaches. Hamilton was penalized for excessive wear on his skid blocks, while Leclerc’s disqualification stemmed from his car being underweight, as confirmed by post-race checks conducted by the FIA.
The controversy erupted when FOM aired only part of the team radio exchange between Hamilton and Leclerc, which led to the perception that the team had instructed Leclerc to pass Hamilton without any prior discussion or request from Hamilton. Vasseur defended his team, clarifying that it was actually Hamilton who had initially requested the position swap. According to Vasseur, Hamilton made the call to allow Leclerc to pass, believing that Leclerc had a better chance of improving Ferrari’s position in the race.
Vasseur expressed frustration over how the situation was portrayed, suggesting that FOM’s selective airing of the radio messages created a misleading narrative. He emphasized that this was an issue of FOM trying to “create a show” rather than accurately portraying the team’s communication. “This is a joke from FOM, because the first call came from Lewis—he asked us to swap,” Vasseur told the media after the race. “But to make the show, they only broadcast the second part of the question.”
The Ferrari team principal revealed that he had already raised the matter with FOM in an attempt to clear up the misunderstanding. According to reports, FOM met with Vasseur to discuss his concerns, and the issue has now been resolved. An F1 spokesperson issued a statement, assuring that there was no intentional attempt to mislead the public regarding the radio messages. The spokesperson explained that the first part of Hamilton’s message had not been aired due to other developments during the race, though they emphasized that this was not deliberate.
Despite the controversy, Ferrari’s race weekend continued to be marred by the disqualifications of both drivers. Hamilton and Leclerc’s struggles were part of a difficult start to the 2025 season for the Scuderia, as they continue to face challenges in finding consistency and performance in the early stages o
f the year.
