Breaking: Ferrari come to surprising conclusion of driver replacement after…read more
Ferrari come to surprising conclusion of driver replacement after…read more
Ferrari experienced a turbulent weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, walking away with mixed feelings after a difficult race that ended with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. The outcome fell short of expectations, and the emotions were evident, particularly among the drivers, who were visibly frustrated during the event. Nevertheless, team principal Fred Vasseur remained optimistic about Ferrari’s overall performance, stating that the team handled the situation well given the challenging conditions. He emphasized the importance of effective communication and well-thought-out strategy, which he believes remain central to the team’s progress.
During the race, both Leclerc and Hamilton found themselves evenly matched in terms of speed, driving closely together in a tactical effort to catch up to Mercedes’ young talent, Kimi Antonelli. The Ferrari pair were operating at similar pace throughout much of the Grand Prix, which made overtaking decisions and strategy particularly sensitive. On multiple occasions, both Leclerc and Hamilton requested permission from the team to switch positions, each confident that they could make quicker progress if given track advantage. These requests reflected the drivers’ growing frustration with the situation unfolding on track.
Despite these appeals, Ferrari was slow to respond with clear team orders. The hesitation to make a quick decision or allow one driver to move ahead led to mounting irritation from both racers. Lewis Hamilton was especially vocal, expressing his dissatisfaction with the delay over the team radio. In a moment of sarcastic criticism, he told the Ferrari pit wall that they could “have a tea break” while he waited for instructions, highlighting just how exasperated he had become by the lack of timely communication.
The incident pointed to a broader issue in Ferrari’s race management — one that may impact team dynamics if not addressed quickly. Although the SF-25 showed competitive performance and the drivers maintained solid racecraft, the absence of decisive action from the pit wall cost the team valuable time and possibly a better finishing position. This episode has sparked discussions within the team about how they handle intra-team competition and driver cooperation.
Ferrari’s leadership, however, has not indicated any immediate change in strategy or driver lineup following the race. Instead, the focus remains on improving clarity in communication and ensuring that future race-day decisions are made swiftly and effectively to avoid similar tensions. As the season continues, how Ferrari manages the relationship between Leclerc and Hamilton could prove crucial to their championship ambitions.
