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Lewis Hamilton’s Radio Issues Lead to Ferrari Communication Evaluation

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur admitted the team needs to improve their communication approach after Lewis Hamilton faced difficulties aligning with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, during the Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season, struggled to find the same level of understanding with Adami as he had with his longtime engineer, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, during his years at Mercedes.

Several of the radio messages broadcast during the race highlighted Hamilton’s growing frustration with Adami. As the race unfolded, Hamilton’s irritation became more evident in their exchanges, prompting Vasseur to reflect on the need for smoother communication within the team.

Vasseur Acknowledges Communication Challenges

Vasseur, who has a longstanding relationship with Hamilton dating back to 2005, acknowledged that the challenges were expected, given that this was their first race together. “It was the first race, the first time that we communicated between the people in the car,” Vasseur explained. “We can do a better job.”

Hamilton, used to 12 years of seamless communication with Bonnington, has entered a new phase with Ferrari, and Vasseur recognized the importance of developing the same connection with Adami. Despite Adami’s extensive experience, having worked with Sebastian Vettel at Toro Rosso and Ferrari, the early stages of building rapport with Hamilton proved difficult.

Radio Exchanges Show Frustration

One particularly tense moment between Hamilton and Adami occurred when the latter tried to remind Hamilton to use the K1 button, which assists with overtaking. The conversation quickly became heated:

Adami: “You can use K1 when you are close.”

Hamilton: “Leave me to it, please.”

Adami: “K1 available.”

Hamilton: “Yes, I know. Leave me to it, please. Please leave it! Just leave me to it with the DRS. It’s not an issue.”

Adami: “Try to hold the K1. Just for practice. I know it’s difficult.”

Hamilton: “I’m not close enough! I’m not close enough. When I’m close, I’ll do it.”

This back-and-forth revealed the growing frustration on Hamilton’s side, as he felt he was receiving too much information in the heat of the race. Adami, on the other hand, was simply trying to assist, though his timing may not have aligned with Hamilton’s preferences.

Vasseur Reflects on Race Conditions

Vasseur attributed some of the communication challenges to the unique circumstances of the Australian Grand Prix. “This weekend was quite extreme for different reasons,” Vasseur said. “It’s not a permanent track, the grip is changing a lot, and it’s one of the most difficult weekends to manage.”

He also emphasized that the team as a whole could learn from the experience and improve for future races. “For sure, it was quite a shock, but it was not the right weekend for us. Next week we’ll have to learn a lot from this weekend because we made mistakes.”

Hamilton’s Take on Communication Issues

Hamilton’s frustration over the amount of information being relayed to him is not unique. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, previously faced similar difficulties with Ferrari’s former race engineer, Xavier Marcos Padros. Vasseur, aware of these issues, expressed the need to strike the right balance. “It was not the issue of Lewis; it was the issue of the team. We need to find the right level of communication between the team, the drivers, and the engineers.”

Despite the communication hiccups, Hamilton remained positive about Adami’s performance during their first race together. “I think Riccardo did a really good job,” Hamilton said. “We’re learning about each other bit by bit. After this, we’ll go through all the comments, things I said, and vice versa.”

Hamilton added that he prefers minimal radio input during the race unless necessary. “Generally, I’m not one that likes a lot of information in the race. Unless I need it, I’ll ask for it. But he did his best today,” he concluded.

As Ferrari continues to refine its communication strategy, both Hamilton and Adami will need time to adjust and build the rapport necessary to excel in future races. The lessons from Melbourne will serve as a valuable starting point for the rest of the season.

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