Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari hold 'crunch' talks following chaotic radio drama at Miami GP

Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur have engaged in urgent talks following a tense exchange over the team radio during the Miami Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion, who joined the Scuderia this season after a storied tenure at Mercedes, was visibly and audibly frustrated by the team’s strategic indecision during Sunday’s race.

Starting a disappointing 12th on the grid, Hamilton clawed his way up the order only to be stalled behind team-mate Charles Leclerc in seventh.

A seemingly sluggish response from the Ferrari pit wall sparked a string of sarcastic comments from the Briton, including quips like “Ah! Have a tea break while you're at it!” and “This is not good teamwork. That's all I'm going to say.”

Eventually, Hamilton was allowed to pass Leclerc but he failed to make meaningful progress and had to return the position, finishing the race in eighth.

Following the race, the former Mercedes driver refused to apologise for his heated words, instead doubling down on his desire to win and the urgency he expects from a title-contending team.

Ferrari boss Vasseur has since downplayed the drama, defending the team’s call and explaining the difficulty in making such real-time decisions.

“I had a discussion with Lewis, and I can perfectly understand the frustration,” Vasseur said as per Daily Mail.

“They are champions, they want to win races… but it’s not easy making the call from the pit wall in the moment.”

Despite the heated radio traffic, Vasseur insisted the team acted in line with Ferrari’s ethos of prioritising the team’s overall result.

While acknowledging that timing may not have been perfect, he reiterated his confidence in the strategy and his support for the drivers’ passion.

Hamilton, for his part, clarified that his outbursts came from a place of competitiveness rather than disrespect. “I’m not going to apologise for being a fighter,” he said.

“I've still got that fire in my belly.”

The incident underlines what has been a rocky start to Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter. Six races into the 2025 season, the Briton is yet to stand on the podium.

His best finish remains fifth in Bahrain, with Ferrari struggling to match the pace of McLaren and Mercedes.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hamilton acknowledged the team’s shortcomings: “We're lacking a lot of pace… For us to be at the back of the top ten is definitely not easy for the whole team.”

Still, Hamilton remains optimistic, especially after showing promise on the medium compound tyre in Miami.

“The car was really coming alive,” he said, expressing hope that updates to the car’s performance package will arrive soon.