At the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were directed by Ferrari to swap positions late in the race, provoking a heated conversation regarding team orders. Despite complying by slowing down, Hamilton crossed the finish line ahead of Leclerc as the swap was not executed effectively. The incident sparked criticism from former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve, who openly questioned Ferrari’s decision to enforce the position exchange.
Following the final pit stops, Charles Leclerc initially led ahead of Lewis Hamilton. However, the seven-time world champion was running on fresher, harder tires, giving him a pace advantage. Ferrari instructed Leclerc to let Hamilton pass to enable the Briton to chase drivers ahead, particularly Lando Norris. Despite this, Hamilton struggled to overtake Norris.
Approaching the finish line, Ferrari reversed their orders, asking Hamilton to relinquish the position back to Leclerc. Hamilton slowed but did not ease off early enough for Leclerc to overtake, ending the race in eighth place, with his teammate in ninth.
Criticism from Jacques Villeneuve on Ferrari’s Race Strategy
Jacques Villeneuve openly condemned Ferrari’s handling of the driver swap at Baku, arguing that Hamilton’s pace advantage on newer tires would have allowed him to pass Leclerc regardless of the team orders. Villeneuve viewed Ferrari’s instruction to return positions as unnecessary interference in the racing battle.
“Lewis Hamilton played it well. He played it really well. Ferrari asked Leclerc to let Lewis by, but they didn’t need to. Lewis then, on the new tyre, was so much quicker anyway he would have overtaken him. So, the team orders were unnecessary. So, I guess that’s why Lewis didn’t really want to let him by again!” said Jacques Villeneuve (via RN365 who quoted a gambling website)
Lewis Hamilton Acknowledges Mistake in Position Swap Timing
Lewis Hamilton admitted that the failure to swap positions smoothly was due to a late message from the team and his focus on trying to pass Lando Norris. He described the incident as a misjudgment on his part, recognizing that he slowed down, but not sufficiently in time for Leclerc to take back the position.
“Firstly…obviously I was quicker [in that moment of the race] but Charles was gracious to let me by. At the end I got the message really late on, and I was like zoned in on the car in front of me, even though there was like 0.0001% chance of passing, I was still hopeful maybe.”
“And basically I did lift on the straight, and did actually brake, but he missed it by like four tenths. That was just a misjudgment by myself. I’ll apologise to Charles. At the end of the day that’s [only] eighth and ninth,” added Hamilton
Charles Leclerc’s Reaction and Team Dynamics
Charles Leclerc appeared unfazed by the position swap controversy, suggesting that since the battle concerned only eighth and ninth places, the order held minimal significance. His calm response reflects the complex balance Ferrari faces managing driver priorities during the race.
Implications for Ferrari and Future Team Orders
The Baku incident highlights the ongoing challenges Ferrari faces when implementing team orders, especially when involving two competitive drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc. Villeneuve’s criticism points to a broader debate in Formula 1 about the necessity and fairness of such instructions. As Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari move forward, ensuring clearer communication and better timing will be crucial to avoid similar controversies.
For motorsports fans and observers, this episode serves as a reminder of the intense strategic decisions that shape race outcomes beyond raw driver skill. The tension between team strategy and individual competition remains a dynamic aspect of Formula 1 racing.
