Tensions at Ferrari as Hamilton Responds to T… read more
Following the conclusion of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton offered insight into a private conversation he had with Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur, following a tense exchange during the race. The incident, which involved a fiery message from Hamilton over the team radio, drew attention not only for its content but also for how it may reflect growing pressure within the Ferrari camp as the team continues to underperform this season.
Hamilton revealed to the media that Vasseur approached him after the race, clearly wanting to address the tone and substance of the radio messages. “Fred came to my room,” Hamilton recounted. “I just put my hand on his shoulder and was like, ‘Dude, calm down. Don’t be so sensitive.’”
The seven-time world champion went on to explain that the radio message was a mix of frustration and sarcasm, rather than personal criticism. “I could have said way worse things on the radio. You hear some of the things others have said in the past,” he added. “Some of it was sarcasm. Look, you’ve got to understand—we’re under a huge amount of pressure within the car. You’re never going to get the most peaceful messages coming through in the heat of the battle. It was fine.”
Hamilton’s remarks point to a broader issue Ferrari may be grappling with: a lack of cohesion and trust in high-pressure moments. Although his comments aimed to downplay the incident, they also highlight a team dynamic that appears increasingly strained amid a disappointing start to the 2025 season.
Ferrari’s performance at the Miami Grand Prix only deepened concerns about the team’s competitiveness. With Charles Leclerc and Hamilton finishing seventh and eighth respectively, Ferrari is slipping further away from the leading pack. What was once hoped to be a season of resurgence has instead seen the Scuderia slipping into a mid-field battle.
As of now, Ferrari finds itself in a tight fight for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, with Williams emerging as a surprise contender. Meanwhile, Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes are consolidating their positions as the true title challengers, leaving Ferrari to reflect on missed opportunities and unfulfilled expectations.
Hamilton, who made a high-profile switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season, was seen as a potential catalyst for a championship push. The move, which stunned the racing world, was widely interpreted as the beginning of a new era for Ferrari—a union between one of the sport’s most successful drivers and its most storied team. But with six race weekends completed, the results have not lived up to the hype. Hamilton is currently seventh in the drivers’ standings and has yet to finish higher than fifth in any grand prix.
Team boss Frédéric Vasseur addressed Hamilton’s radio outburst after the race and gave his own perspective on the matter. “My concern is not that he has to speak with TV. It’s that we need to be clear between us that, in this situation, he has to understand what was my feeling on the pit wall,” Vasseur said.
The Ferrari team principal stressed the importance of internal trust and understanding, particularly when critical decisions must be made during a race. “He can trust me, I can trust him, and the same with Charles. When I have to take a decision, I’m taking a decision for Ferrari,” Vasseur asserted.
The comments from both Hamilton and Vasseur suggest that while the public spat may be overblown, there are underlying tensions that need to be addressed if Ferrari is to mount any sort of comeback in the remainder of the season. Trust and communication between driver and team principal are vital, especially when expectations are sky-high and the results are falling short.
For Hamilton, the situation is undoubtedly frustrating. After years of competing for titles with Mercedes, he joined Ferrari with the aim of securing an elusive eighth world championship. But instead of fighting at the front, he’s found himself in a car that struggles for pace and consistency.
The road ahead for Ferrari is a steep one. Unless they can find significant performance improvements and foster stronger internal unity, they risk finishing another season without meaningful progress. As the season continues, how the team handles moments of internal tension—such as this exchange between Hamilton and Vasseur—could be as critical as the performance on track
