Ferrari chief furious with F1 bosses and demands talks over Lewis Hamilton’s…read more
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has voiced his anger at Formula One Management (FOM) following what he believes was a misleading depiction of the team’s internal communications during the recent Chinese Grand Prix. According to Vasseur, FOM selectively broadcast certain team radio messages between Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, which he feels distorted the reality of the situation on track and within the team.
The controversy arose when both Ferrari drivers, Hamilton and Leclerc, were battling closely during the race. Early in the Grand Prix, Leclerc sustained minor damage to his car’s front-wing endplate following light contact with Hamilton. Despite this setback, Leclerc appeared to have a stronger pace than his teammate as the race progressed.
Hamilton, who was evidently struggling with his own car’s performance, made a tactical decision to suggest letting Leclerc pass him. Over the team radio, Hamilton told the Ferrari pit wall, “I think I’m gonna let Charles go because I’m struggling.” This comment reflected Hamilton’s willingness to prioritize the team’s broader objectives rather than his personal race position. The goal behind this move was to give Leclerc the opportunity to chase after George Russell, who was running ahead at the time.
Vasseur, however, is furious that FOM only broadcasted selected parts of this conversation, which may have created a skewed narrative around Ferrari’s strategy and Hamilton’s role in it. According to Vasseur, the edited radio exchanges presented an inaccurate picture of the decision-making process inside the team and risked causing unnecessary speculation among fans and the media about potential discord between the two drivers.
The Ferrari boss emphasized that the situation on track was handled professionally by both drivers and the team. Vasseur praised Hamilton’s mature approach in recognizing his limitations at that stage of the race and making a selfless call to benefit Ferrari’s overall race performance. He stressed that this type of team-first mentality is exactly what Ferrari needs to challenge for stronger results this season.
Vasseur is now demanding formal discussions with FOM to address the broader issue of how team radio broadcasts are selected and presented to the public. He argues that the selective airing of certain messages without proper context can lead to misunderstandings that misrepresent team dynamics and undermine trust between teams and Formula One’s governing bodies.
The incident has reignited ongoing debates in the F1 paddock about media transparency and how broadcast decisions influence the perception of on-track events. Vasseur insists that teams should have more input or at least be consulted when such critical moments are broadcasted to ensure fans receive a clearer and fairer representation of what occurs behind the scenes.
