BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Calls Out Double Standard in Verstappen ‘A…read more
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Calls Out Double Standard in Verstappen ‘A…read more
Lewis Hamilton has called out what he sees as an unfair media bias after his team radio exchange with Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami at the Australian Grand Prix received heavy scrutiny. The seven-time world champion questioned why his radio messages were so heavily criticized while Max Verstappen’s fiery exchanges with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, often go unchallenged.
Hamilton’s frustration during his debut race with Ferrari was evident as the team struggled in mixed weather conditions. His brief but firm request to Adami “Leave me to it, please” was widely discussed, with some interpreting it as a sign of tension. However, Hamilton believes the reaction was overblown, especially compared to Verstappen’s well-documented, intense radio conversations, including a profanity-laced rant at last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Hamilton Defends His Team Radio Exchange
Speaking ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton dismissed any notion of conflict with Adami, explaining that their interaction was simply part of adapting to a new team.
“Naturally, people exaggerated. It was just a normal back-and-forth,”* Hamilton told Sky F1. “I was very polite—I just said, ‘Leave it to me, please.’ I wasn’t swearing, I wasn’t being rude. At that moment, I was struggling with the car and needed full concentration.”
He also reassured fans that his relationship with Adami remains strong, despite the intense scrutiny.
“We’re still getting used to each other. He has worked with multiple champions before, and there are no issues between us.”
Hamilton Questions Lack of Criticism Towards Verstappen
Hamilton then shifted focus to Verstappen, arguing that the Dutchman’s often aggressive radio messages to Lambiase have been largely ignored by the media.
“Listen to the radio exchanges between other drivers and their engineers many are far worse,” Hamilton said. “Max has spoken to his engineer in ways that could be considered abusive over the years, but no one ever writes about that. Yet, the smallest exchange I had with mine made headlines.”
His comments highlight an ongoing debate about how different drivers are portrayed under pressure. With Ferrari looking to recover from a tough race in Australia, Hamilton hopes to turn attention back to his on-track performance at the Chinese Grand Prix.
