Lewis Hamilton has “refused to apologise for being a fighter” after a tense Ferrari team radio exchange during the Miami Grand Prix sparked headlines and internal discussions.
The seven-time world champion was frustrated as Ferrari hesitated over whether to move teammate Charles Leclerc aside when they were running in seventh and eighth place. Hamilton, on a faster medium tyre, felt he was clearly quicker and wanted the team to act decisively.
Hamilton’s frustration spilled over on team radio, where he snapped, “Have a tea break while you are at it. Come on!” after Ferrari finally ordered Leclerc to move aside. However, when Hamilton failed to make ground on Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli, the team reversed the positions again with just four laps remaining.
Adding to the tension, Hamilton’s race engineer Riccardo Adami warned him that Carlos Sainz was 1.4 seconds behind, prompting Hamilton to fire back: “You want me to let him past as well?”
Speaking candidly after the race, Hamilton clarified his emotions:
“It wasn’t even anger. It was just, you’re sitting there in the chair, you’ve got the stuff in front of you, just make the decision quick. That’s what I was feeling. I was in a panic, trying to keep the car on the track. The computer thinks fast.”
Hamilton further explained, “I got on the medium tyre and I felt the car really came alive and I was super optimistic. But we lost a lot of time in those laps when Charles and I were lapping together and I was clearly quicker in that moment.”
“I didn’t think the decision came quick enough. For sure in that time you’re like ‘Come on!’ It was all PG. I don’t know what you’re going to write, whether I was disrespectful or whatever. But I honestly don’t feel I was. I was just like ‘come on guys, I want to win.’ I’ve still got that fire in my belly.”
Hamilton emphasized his passion, saying, “I’m not going to apologise for being a fighter. I’m not going to apologise for still wanting it. And I know everyone in the team does, too.”
After starting 12th following his worst Ferrari qualifying session, Hamilton worked his way up to eighth and believed he was owed cooperation, recalling that he had let Leclerc pass during the Chinese Grand Prix in March. On the Miami radio, Hamilton challenged the team: “You want me just to sit here? This is not good teamwork. That is all I am going to say.”
When Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur visited Hamilton after the race, Hamilton said, “(Fred) came to my room, and I just put my hand on his shoulder and said ‘Dude, calm down! Don’t be so sensitive.’ I could have said way worse things on the radio. You should hear some of the things other people have said.”
Hamilton wrapped up the matter by stressing, “Some of it was sarcasm, and you’ve got to understand we’re under huge pressure in the cars. You’re never going to get the most peaceful messages come through in the heat of battle. It is fine. I have no problems with either the team or with Charles.”
