The 2025 Miami Grand Prix left a bitter taste in Ferrari’s mouth, not just because of the results on the track. Lewis Hamilton, a world champion, caused a striking statement that highlights Scuderia’s strategic decisions and the management of his boss, Frédéric Vassur. What seemed just another weekend of Hamilton adapting to the red team became a chapter of tension, sarcasm and a call to wake up that resonates all over Maranello.
During the race in Miami, Ferrari failed to play the podium, ending with Charles Leclerc in seventh and Hamilton in eighth. But the real drama burst on the team’s radio. A visibly frustrated Hamilton criticized Ferrari’s strategy, which kept him behind Leclerc for four laps as he, with faster average tires, challenged Mercedes’s Kimi Antonelli. “This is not teamwork!” Hamilton exclaimed, going further with a sarcastic comment: “Take a cup of tea while deciding.” These words, although Hamilton clarified that they were “sarcasm, not anger,” alarms fired on the team and social networks.
After the race, Vassur went to Hamilton’s cockpit to discuss the incident. According to the pilot himself, the conversation was tense: “I put my hand on his shoulder and said,” Dude, calm, don’t be so sensitive. ” Hamilton, faithful to his combative style, refused to apologize for the radio comments, stating that “he won’t apologize for being a fighter” and still has “fire in the stomach” to win. These words, reported by Motorsport.com, reflect not only the British’s passion, but also his discomfort with Ferrari’s internal dynamics in his first season with the team.
The context of this controversy reveals a greater challenge for Ferrari. Hamilton, accustomed to Mercedes’ accuracy for over a decade, has been having a hard time adapting to SF-25 and communicating with his running engineer Riccardo Adami. According to La Repubblica, the relationship between the two has been tense since the beginning of the season in Melbourne, with “constant friction”. This cultural and strategic shock is testing the patience of the 40 -year -old, who, despite the third place in the Miami Sprint race, does not hide his disappointment with the overall performance of the team.
In turn, Vassur defended his approach, explaining that decisions in Pit Wall are not simple. “You don’t have 30 minutes to analyze data; you decide in real time who is the fastest and if DRS is affecting the car,” said the Frenchman, according to Caranddriver.com. Although he recognized that the delay in the order of exchange could have cost the team positions, he insisted that his decisions always prioritize Ferrari. However, Italian media outlets like La Gazzetta began to question Vassur’s management, wondering if the “chef” needs to “adjust his recipe” after the initial mantra of “letting vassur cooking”.
The impact of this episode goes beyond the track. On social networks, especially on Facebook, Hamilton fans and supporters fed the debate. Some applaud the pilot’s frankness, seeing this as an incentive for Ferrari to wake up; Others criticize his attitude, arguing that he should adapt before pointing out mistakes. Posts at X, such as @deportelasexta, highlight Hamilton’s outburst on the radio, while @mexicost reported an alleged emergency meeting at Ferrari, although without official confirmation.
This incident occurs at a critical moment for Scuderia, which faces a difficult season in 2025, after a promising 2024. Disqualification in China, lack of pace against McLaren and internal tensions threaten hindering the ambitions of Hamilton and Leclerc. However, the Briton remains hopeful, trusting that SF-23’s aerodynamic improvements and front-wing flexibility tests can benefit the team, according to Motorsport.com.
The question now is whether Hamilton’s statement will be a point of turning to Ferrari or the beginning of a stormy relationship. What is clear is that the heptacal champion will not be silent. Will Maranello be able to channel his fire to return to glory? Only time will say, but the F1 world is keeping an eye on this red drama.
