Lewis Hamilton expressed clear frustration during the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday after Ferrari deployed team orders that saw Charles Leclerc initially instructed to let the seven-time world champion pass, only for the team to reverse the decision minutes later. The back-and-forth left Hamilton visibly annoyed, as he told his race engineer, “not great team work,” and sarcastically suggested taking a tea break while waiting for further updates. Hamilton’s difficulties continued when he was later asked to hand back the position to Leclerc, which he did reluctantly, further complicating his race as Carlos Sainz closed in closely behind. This sequence of events culminated in the two Ferrari drivers finishing seventh and eighth respectively, with Leclerc edging Hamilton once again in the race.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur later addressed the tensions, acknowledging Hamilton’s frustration but emphasizing that such decisions are rooted in team strategy and policy.
No driver in my history has ever told me they’re pleased to let a teammate go ahead,
Vasseur said, illustrating how rare and difficult these orders are for all involved. He pointed out that Ferrari’s approach is to prioritize the team’s overall success, even when it means asking drivers to make sacrifices on track. Vasseur revealed the delicate nature of these calls, which require quick assessment of factors such as whether the chasing car is genuinely faster or simply benefiting from DRS, and admitted that decisions aren’t always perfect, but are made in the moment based on the best available information.
Hamilton confirmed that Vasseur visited him after the event to check in on his mood, and while the driver admitted to some frustration, he attempted to ease tensions by saying,
dude, calm down, don’t be so sensitive.
Hamilton also dismissed concerns over his radio comments, mentioning that a certain level of sarcasm is typical in team communications, and highlighting that other drivers have expressed even stronger sentiments in the past. According to Hamilton, the conversations behind the scenes became more relaxed following the race, with both parties understanding the challenges faced during the heat of competition.
Adding context to the situation, Vasseur stressed that Ferrari was simply enforcing its established protocol to swap positions if the car behind is faster and capable of closing the gap, but revert the order if the chasing car cannot catch the one ahead. In this case, the back-and-forth was frustrating but necessary from the team’s perspective, as they aim to balance individual ambitions with collective goals.
We are racing for Ferrari first,
Vasseur explained,
and honestly I think as a team we did a good job.
He dismissed the episode as minor in the grand scheme, pointing out that finishing sixth and seventh is marginal compared to the team’s larger concerns, such as being a minute behind McLaren in overall race pace.
Vasseur also provided insight into the challenges of making split-second tactical decisions, noting that officials only have about a lap or so to review data and determine if one driver is genuinely faster under current conditions, including DRS assistance. With cars constantly battling on track and situations changing rapidly, the margin for error is slim. He implored people to consider that decisions are never easy and rarely perfect, but are made with the best intent to support team performance and fairness between teammates.
The Ferrariprincipal’s comments emphasized the emotional difficulty these orders impose on drivers, who often wrestle with feelings of frustration and sacrifice, knowing they must balance personal ambition with the team’s objectives.
It’s frustrating because there are the feelings that they gave up a position,
Vasseur said, underlining the human element within the strategic decisions. Nevertheless, he affirmed that both Hamilton and Leclerc are aligned with Ferrari’s goals and understand the need for cooperation despite occasional setbacks.
Hamilton’s radio messages, broadcast globally, sparked questions from the media about his testy remarks during the race. However, Vasseur downplayed any concerns, stating that open communication is essential and that what matters most is maintaining mutual trust within the team.
He has to understand what was my feeling, that he can trust me, I can trust him and the same with Charles,
he said. The team principal reiterated that decisions are made live and under pressure, with no luxury of time, which can sometimes make the process appear slow or frustrating from a driver’s perspective.
After crossing the line in eighth place, Hamilton collected 10 points but slipped further behind in the driver standings, now trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by 90 points. Despite the setbacks in Miami, Hamilton remains a key figure within Ferrari’s lineup and will be looking ahead to upcoming races as he aims to close the gap and regain momentum. The events of the Miami GP underscored the continuing challenges Ferrari faces in balancing driver rivalry with the strategic imperatives of Formula 1 competition.
