Fred Vasseur may have pushed Lewis Hamilton out of Ferrari with controversial call

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Ferrari on the grid. 22.03.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Sprint and Qualifying Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images

During the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton grew visibly frustrated with Ferrari during a radio exchange, criticizing the team’s delayed decision to let him pass teammate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton believed the hesitation cost him valuable tyre life and performance.

The seven-time world champion, who started 12th and had switched to faster medium tyres after the sole round of pit stops, found himself behind Leclerc, who was on slower hard tyres. After both drivers overtook Carlos Sainz in the same corner to move into seventh and eighth, Hamilton requested to be allowed through.

However, Ferrari initially asked him to wait, then decided to maintain the current order to keep Hamilton within Leclerc’s DRS range.

Hamilton, frustrated by the indecision, called it “not good teamwork” and referenced the Chinese Grand Prix, where he had previously let Leclerc through without resistance. When Ferrari eventually agreed to the switch, Hamilton sarcastically said over the radio: “Have a tea break while you’re at it, come on!”

By the time the order was changed, Hamilton felt his tyres had degraded too much to chase down Kimi Antonelli ahead. In a further twist, he was later instructed to let Leclerc back through near the race’s end. Hamilton complied but then sarcastically asked if he should also let Sainz by.

Speaking to the media afterward, Hamilton shared his frustrations and hinted he hadn’t yet spoken to team principal Frédéric Vasseur before facing interviews.

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