Lewis Hamilton Backed by F1 Veteran After Ferrari T…read more
Lewis Hamilton has received public backing from a former Formula 1 driver following a heated exchange with his race engineer during the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month. The seven-time world champion expressed his frustration over a delayed team order that saw him stuck behind Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, sparking yet another incident that highlights the tense dynamics within the Scuderia.
The clash unfolded when Hamilton was left waiting for team orders to allow him to pass Leclerc, who was on a slower strategy. The decision took longer than expected, leading Hamilton to make a string of sarcastic remarks over team radio directed at his engineer, Riccardo Adami. While the British driver was quick to downplay the situation after the race, the tone of his radio messages revealed the underlying tension in Ferrari’s intra-team relationship.
Former F1 star Johnny Herbert, who raced for teams including Jaguar and Stewart during his career, has stepped in to defend Hamilton, suggesting that the 40-year-old had every right to be frustrated given the circumstances. Speaking to Fast Slots, Herbert acknowledged the difficult nature of in-race strategy decisions and the emotional toll they can take on drivers.
“I think that’s just a part of Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami’s relationship,” Herbert said. “It is something that we see often – frustrations coming out of drivers in the heat of the moment during a race. These small fallouts happen, especially when strategy doesn’t play out the way the driver expects.”
According to Herbert, the delay in issuing the team order was a misstep by Ferrari. “In Miami, when that call came about swapping places, it probably should have happened earlier. They delayed it, and it didn’t quite happen the way it should’ve,” he added. “Then when they did finally allow the swap, it didn’t work out as hoped. The radio communication from Lewis showed his frustration, but in my opinion, he was simply making a point. Was he right? Yes. There was nothing wrong with what he said.”
The incident is part of a larger pattern of apparent friction between Hamilton and Adami, raising questions about the harmony within the Ferrari garage. During the recent Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton finished fifth, yet when he asked his engineer for feedback on his performance, he was met with awkward silence – a moment that many fans interpreted as a sign of deeper issues within the team.
Hamilton’s dream move to Ferrari, which was celebrated by fans and media alike at the beginning of the 2025 season, has so far failed to deliver the expected results. Despite clinching victory in the China Grand Prix Sprint, the Briton has yet to reach the podium in any of the main races this season. He continues to be outpaced by Leclerc in both qualifying sessions and race performances, contributing to growing speculation about his long-term commitment to the team.
Currently sitting sixth in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton finds himself sandwiched between his teammate Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian who replaced him at Mercedes. With tensions rising and results lacking, some pundits are beginning to wonder whether Hamilton might consider cutting his Ferrari stint short if the team cannot find a way to turn things around.
For now, Hamilton remains committed to his goals at Ferrari, but his recent radio outbursts and on-track frustration signal a level of discontent that may only intensify if the team fails to deliver competitive machinery. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on how this high-profile partnership navigates the growing pressure.
