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Ferrari Find Positives Despite Hamilton and Leclerc’s Frustration in Miami
Ferrari left the Miami Grand Prix with mixed emotions after a challenging race saw Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finish seventh and eighth, respectively. Despite visible frustration from both drivers during the event, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur stood by his belief that the team performed well under the circumstances, highlighting the importance of clear communication and strategic decision-making.
Throughout the race, Leclerc and Hamilton found themselves closely matched in terms of pace, driving their SF-25s in tandem as they attempted to close the gap to Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli. Both drivers, at different stages of the race, asked the team for permission to swap positions, believing they could make better progress. However, Ferrari’s hesitance and the time it took to issue team orders led to vocal frustration from the drivers — most notably from Hamilton, who sarcastically told the pit wall to “have a tea break” while awaiting instructions.
Despite the tension, Vasseur explained post-race that the decisions made were in line with Ferrari’s internal strategy and that they were carried out as intended. He clarified that when Hamilton, on a softer tire compound, appeared to have a potential pace advantage over Leclerc, the team allowed him through to attempt an overtake on Antonelli. However, since he was unable to do so, Ferrari enforced their policy of switching the drivers back to their original positions by the end of the race.
“I completely understand why the drivers were frustrated,” Vasseur told Sky Sports F1. “They are both champions, highly competitive, and eager to fight for wins. When you ask one to let the other pass, it’s always difficult to accept. But we had to take responsibility and make the call for the good of the team.”
Vasseur reiterated that even though neither driver was ultimately able to challenge Antonelli’s Mercedes, the execution of the team’s plan was done with fairness and strategic intent. He praised the drivers for maintaining professionalism despite their disappointment, emphasizing that open dialogue with both Hamilton and Leclerc after the race helped clear the air.
He added, “In these high-pressure moments, it’s easy for emotions to flare. But what matters is that we listened to our drivers, understood their points of view, and made decisions based on what we believed would give us the best chance. Even if the result doesn’t show it on paper, I think we handled the situation well.”
As the season progresses, Ferrari will undoubtedly continue to face the challenge of managing two elite drivers with strong ambitions. For now, though, Vasseur appears focused on refining internal processes and maintaining unity, even when frustrations run high.
