Cracks at Ferrari? Hamilton’s Sharp Words Spark...

Cracks at Ferrari? Hamilton’s Sharp Words Spark…read more

The harmony at Ferrari may be showing signs of strain after tensions between Lewis Hamilton and his new team surfaced publicly during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, who made a blockbuster switch from Mercedes to Ferrari this season, found himself at the center of a growing internal storm following a tense radio exchange and pointed post-race remarks aimed at both teammate Charles Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur.

The friction came to light during a critical phase of the Miami race when Hamilton, running behind Leclerc, was heard on team radio voicing his frustration over the team’s hesitation to issue team orders. The delay in decision-making appeared to irk the British driver, who fired off a sarcastic remark, suggesting that the Ferrari pit wall should “take a tea break” while they debated whether or not to allow him to pass Leclerc.

Hamilton’s comment, though laced with irony, hinted at deeper frustrations over the team’s strategic choices and apparent reluctance to prioritize his position despite his pace. The remark quickly gained traction online and among the paddock, fueling speculation that all is not well behind closed doors at Maranello.

Following the race, in which both Ferrari drivers finished behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Hamilton reportedly confronted team principal Fred Vasseur. According to sources close to the situation, the Briton told Vasseur to “calm down” and “not be so sensitive,” in response to what he perceived as an overreaction to his radio outburst. Hamilton was said to have stressed that emotions naturally run high during race situations and that his comments should be viewed in that context—not as a personal attack.

However, the incident has done little to dispel concerns that Ferrari’s gamble on Hamilton, while potentially championship-winning on paper, may bring with it a new kind of volatility. Integrating a driver of Hamilton’s stature—who is known for his assertiveness and tactical thinking—into a team that has long balanced the ambitions of Leclerc could prove more complex than Ferrari anticipated.

Observers have noted that this isn’t the first instance of strategic tension between the two drivers this season. While the Miami incident was the most public, prior races have featured moments of veiled discontent—ranging from debates over pit stop timing to diverging views on race pace management.

Insiders at Ferrari remain divided on how to interpret the situation. Some view Hamilton’s remarks as typical of a driver pushing his team to be sharper and more decisive under pressure. Others, however, fear that if not managed carefully, the dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc could devolve into the kind of intra-team rivalry that famously plagued Ferrari in past eras.

Fred Vasseur, who took the reins at Ferrari with a mandate to restore order and competitiveness, now finds himself in a delicate balancing act—managing egos, expectations, and the intense pressure of delivering results in a sport where every second counts and every word is scrutinized.

In the post-race press conference, both Hamilton and Leclerc downplayed the incident, with Hamilton brushing off the radio comments as “just part of racing” and Leclerc insisting that team harmony remained intact. Still, their strained expressions and carefully measured responses did little to ease concerns that the seeds of discord may have already been planted.

With the championship battle heating up and internal dynamics under the microscope, all eyes will be on Ferrari in the coming races. If they can channel the tension into performance, the team could still mount a serious challenge to Red Bull. But if the cracks widen, Ferrari may face more than just rivals on the track—they’ll be racing against themselves.