Lewis Hamilton’s Miami GP Frustration: A Deeper Look into His Ra… Read more
Lewis Hamilton’s frustration during the 2025 Miami Grand Prix became evident through a series of radio messages that surfaced after the race, highlighting his discontent not just with Ferrari’s strategy calls but also with his car’s performance and his communication with race engineer Riccardo Adami. Though his well-publicized “tea break” remark grabbed headlines, it turns out Hamilton had been unhappy much earlier in the race.
Starting from a lowly 12th on the grid, Hamilton struggled to gain ground during the initial stages of the race. He slowly made his way up the order, first overtaking Isack Hadjar to move into 11th and then engaging in a close battle with Esteban Ocon. Eventually, pit strategies and a well-timed Virtual Safety Car, triggered by Oliver Bearman’s halted Haas, helped Hamilton climb up to eighth place. This positioned him right behind teammate Charles Leclerc, setting the stage for one of the race’s more controversial radio exchanges.
Hamilton became frustrated when Ferrari’s call to switch places with Leclerc was delayed. Once the switch was finally made, Hamilton was instructed to give the position back after failing to catch Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli ahead. This sequence clearly added to his annoyance, but the seeds of his frustration had been sown well before that moment.
Unreleased radio messages from the race have now shed more light on Hamilton’s mindset. Early on, he asked to be left alone, stating, “So hot here, mate. Just leave me to it now,” to which Adami responded with a simple acknowledgment. As the team suggested switching to engine mode “Soft 9,” Hamilton responded sharply, saying, “Stop talking to me while I’m in fricking battle, man, jeez. I’m in the braking zone, you’re talking to me.”
His dissatisfaction with the car was also clear. Complaining about its performance, Hamilton noted, “God, so slow in the straights, man. It’s so draggy,” and added later, “How is this pace? I can’t really go any quicker.” Adami informed him that he was slightly quicker than Leclerc, but Hamilton responded with continued concerns about tyre wear and handling issues, particularly understeer.
When asking for a race update, Hamilton appeared incredulous: “Everyone ahead stopped right?” After confirmation, he exclaimed, “How long to go? Jesus Christ. We’re so slow today.” Adami’s reply—25 laps to go—offered little comfort.
After the race, Hamilton addressed the media regarding his heated radio exchanges. He clarified that his tone wasn’t rooted in anger but in urgency. “It wasn’t even anger. It wasn’t like effing and blinding or anything like that. It was like, come on, make the decision. You’re sitting on the chair, you’ve got the stuff in front of you, make the decision quick.”
He emphasized that such communication comes naturally when competing at the limit and trying to make split-second decisions while also driving at full intensity. “We’re in a panic, we’re trying to keep the car on the track. We’re computing things fast.”
The seven-time World Champion was unapologetic about his radio demeanor, asserting that it reflects his continued passion for winning. “I was like, ‘come on guys, I want to win.’ I’ve still got my fire in my belly. I could feel a bit of it really coming up there. I’m not going to apologise for being a fighter.”
Hamilton believes Ferrari is still not in a position to consistently challenge the front-runners but remains optimistic that progress is possible. “I know everyone in the team does [want to win] too. And I truly believe that when we fix some of the problems that we have with the car, we’ll be back in the fight with the Mercedes, with the Red Bulls. It just can’t come quick enough.”
Looking ahead, he expressed hope that adjustments for upcoming races might yield better results. “We’ll try something different in the next race. We’ll keep working on the processes. I look forward to a time when maybe I can fight for a podium, that would be nice.”
Despite finishing eighth in Miami and collecting 10 points, Hamilton remains seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 90 points. The Miami GP may not have brought the result he hoped for, but Hamilton’s message is clear: his competitive fire still burns strong.
