Following the intense Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton‘s telemetry data reveals an alarming loss of almost a second per lap compared to race winner Oscar Piastri, highlighting a costly performance gap. Both Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc are reportedly seeking private, behind-closed-doors discussions with the team’s management after a frustrating race weekend that left morale at an all-time low. With Hamilton finishing eighth and Leclerc seventh, the pressure is mounting on Ferrari amid a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The Ferrari strategy in Miami, including controversial team orders, failed to generate any significant advantage, instead contributing to growing dissatisfaction within the team. Data analyzed by PlanetF1.com expert Uros Radovanovic underlines how Hamilton consistently lagged behind the McLaren driver Piastri, who claimed victory with his third consecutive win. This stark telemetry gap emphasizes Ferrari’s ongoing struggles as they trail 152 points behind the championship leaders, McLaren, with only one podium finish so far in the season.
Internal tensions appear to be rising as both Hamilton and Leclerc push for urgent talks focusing on the team’s pace and communication issues, which plagued the Miami GP weekend. These discussions suggest a feeling of unease and urgency within Ferrari, as they try to identify and rectify the “main issue” causing their disappointing performances. Hamilton’s reputation as a driver who meticulously studies telemetry data adds weight to these concerns, suggesting he is deeply engaged in finding technical explanations for the team’s current shortcomings.
Elsewhere in Formula 1, off-track drama continues with Alpine’s decision to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto from the Imola race onwards, following a difficult start to Doohan’s season. Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz provided insight into an emotional moment in the Miami paddock, where Doohan was consoled by his father Mick, underscoring the personal toll F1 pressures can take on drivers. Meanwhile, former driver and pundit Martin Brundle expressed his view that McLaren’s Piastri possesses a marginally more effective racecraft compared to teammate Lando Norris, a fact Max Verstappen is reportedly well aware of.
The Miami weekend also saw fresh scrutiny over the legality of McLaren’s MCL39, with Red Bull raising suspicions, although Mercedes’ George Russell publicly defended McLaren, stating he believed the car to be within regulations. These off-track controversies add another layer of complexity to a season already filled with tension and competition.
The situation at Ferrari, especially with Lewis Hamilton closely monitoring telemetry data and advocating for private discussions, signals a critical moment for the iconic team. With the championship challenge slipping further away, the upcoming internal talks may prove pivotal in deciding whether Ferrari can respond effectively or continue to fall behind a revitalized McLaren. For Hamilton, who is known for his analytical approach and resilience, this period is likely to be one of the most anxious and challenging of his career, as he fights not only on the track but also within his own team to regain lost ground.
