During the closing moments of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was instructed by Ferrari to allow teammate Charles Leclerc to pass before the finish line, but he failed to do so in time. Hamilton had been permitted to overtake Leclerc earlier on fresher tyres to challenge those ahead, yet Ferrari later demanded the positions be swapped back just before the race ended.
Despite a team radio message urging him to let Leclerc through on the last lap, Hamilton crossed the checkered flag approximately four tenths of a second ahead, appearing to fall short of fully complying with the command. The seven-time World Champion slowed and moved off the racing line but maintained a gap that prevented Leclerc from regaining the lead before the finish.
Race engineer Riccardo Adami’s radio transmission, which has since been shared widely, instructed Hamilton:
“[Leclerc] one-and-a-half [seconds] behind you. This is the last lap… let him by.”
In response, Hamilton seemingly attempted to follow orders by easing off and checking his mirrors, yet the timing did not allow Leclerc to pass before crossing the finish line.
Race Context and Impact of Position Swap Request
The battle for eighth and ninth place, involving Hamilton and Leclerc, held minimal impact on championship standings, as these positions were not critical to the title race. Both Ferrari drivers were running behind the frontrunners and focused on maximizing points rather than contesting for victory.
Hamilton had been closing in on Leclerc while on medium tyres and was temporarily allowed past to try to chase down the drivers ahead, including Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and Lando Norris. The team’s later request aimed to reset the order between their drivers, though it came late in the lap.
Reflecting on the situation post-race, Hamilton explained his perspective:
“Firstly, obviously I was quicker [earlier on], but Charles was gracious to let me by.”
He added,
“At the end, I got the message really late on, and I was zoned in on the car in front of me, even though there was like a 0.0001 per cent chance of passing, and I was still hopeful, maybe.”
Confirming his partial compliance, Hamilton said,
“Basically, I did lift on the straight and did actually brake, but I missed it by like four tenths…so I apologise to Charles. At the end of the day, it’s eighth and ninth.”
Broader Race Results and Championship Developments
At the front, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory, marking his second consecutive race win. Meanwhile, World Championship contender Oscar Piastri suffered a first-lap crash, ending his hopes for points in Baku. Lando Norris finished seventh, slightly reducing his deficit to teammate in the Drivers’ Championship to 25 points.
The podium was completed by George Russell in second, while Carlos Sainz, formerly with Ferrari, achieved his first top-three finish driving for Williams. The outcome highlighted Verstappen’s strong momentum and deepened discussions about team strategies in midfield battles.
What This Means for Future Team Orders and Driver Relations
The incident between Hamilton and Leclerc over the final lap seat swap illustrates the tensions that can arise when team instructions clash with driver instincts. Although the positions at stake did not significantly affect the overall championship, the exchange has drawn attention to the timing and clarity of such orders.
With the Formula 1 season moving forward, the management of intra-team dynamics remains critical, especially for teams like Ferrari navigating competitive pressures and driver ambitions. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how teams handle similar situations in upcoming races to balance strategy and respect among drivers.
