During the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, Lewis Hamilton found himself at the center of controversy involving a Ferrari team order as the race neared its close. Ferrari initiated a strategic decision intending to improve Hamilton’s position, but the execution faltered, leading to confusion and debate about the team’s management of the situation.
With roughly ten laps remaining, Ferrari called on Charles Leclerc to give way to Hamilton, who had fresher tires and was perceived as having a better chance to overtake Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson ahead of them. Hamilton attempted to make the pass but was ultimately unsuccessful, prompting the team to request that he return the position to Leclerc. However, Hamilton misjudged the timing of this maneuver and crossed the finish line just ahead of his teammate, causing an unexpected outcome.
Hamilton Admits Error in Timing Position Swap With Leclerc
Hamilton acknowledged the miscalculation, noting that the late team instruction arrived when he was focused on the car ahead, making it difficult to respond immediately. He said,
“I was quicker, but Charles was gracious to let me by. 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 0.001% chance of passing,”
Lewis Hamilton explained.
“Basically, I did lift on the straight and did actually brake, but I missed it by like four-tenths, so that was just a misjudgement for myself.”
After the incident, Hamilton expressed his regret and apologized to Leclerc for the mistake, stating,
“I apologise to Charles. At the end of the day, it’s eighth and ninth,”
demonstrating professionalism despite the mix-up.
Leclerc Responds Calmly to Incident and Team’s Coordination
Charles Leclerc displayed a composed attitude toward the situation, downplaying the impact of the position swap failure between him and Hamilton. Leclerc remarked,
“Honestly, I mean for a P8 or a P9 it’s not going to be a big talking point. I don’t really mind.”
He also clarified the normal team procedures for such swaps, adding,
“Obviously, these are things that we agree between us and the general rules of how we want to work whenever there’s a swap. It didn’t happen, and that’s OK. I mean, it’s not like I would have been a lot happier being P8, so I don’t mind.”
Strategic Challenges and Midfield Struggles Define Ferrari’s Season So Far
Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur provided insight into the rationale behind the team order, explaining that Hamilton’s fresher tyres and Leclerc’s power unit issues prompted the call as a strategic gamble. Unfortunately, the plan did not yield the desired outcome, with the team finishing outside of points contention once again.
The 2025 season has been frustrating for Ferrari, who entered with hopes of contesting McLaren for the Constructors’ Championship. Instead, they find themselves entangled in midfield battles and trailing McLaren by over 300 points. In Baku, Leclerc started from 10th place after a qualifying crash, while Hamilton began in 12th, and despite some progress during the race, neither reached the top five.
Hamilton, who joined Ferrari to pursue success, noted some positives about feeling more comfortable in the car despite the difficult weekend. However, the incident with Leclerc underscored ongoing communication and coordination issues within the team.
Looking Ahead: Ferrari Aims to Regain Stability at Singapore Grand Prix
This latest mix-up serves as a reminder of Ferrari’s precarious position this season and the pressures facing both drivers and management. With the Singapore Grand Prix approaching, Ferrari aims to restore cohesion and challenge more effectively for higher finishes. How they respond to these setbacks will be critical in shaping the remainder of their campaign as they seek to prevent further deterioration in their standing.
Lewis Hamilton to apologise to Charles Leclerc over position swap
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) September 21, 2025
