Tensions flared inside the Ferrari garage during the Miami Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton found himself at the centre of a controversial team orders drama, triggered by what he called the enduring “fire in my belly.”

The seven-time world champion, racing for Ferrari in his debut season with the Scuderia, was visibly frustrated after being held up behind teammate Charles Leclerc during the closing stages of the race. Hamilton, on fresher tyres, requested to be let through to challenge Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, only to receive no immediate response from the pit wall.

“Take a tea break while you’re at it,” Hamilton quipped over team radio — a comment that sparked a wave of headlines and internal discussions.

The episode was one of two strategy clashes within the team during the race. Once Hamilton failed to reel in Antonelli, Ferrari instructed him to give the position back to Leclerc. The Monegasque driver responded: “Don’t bother,” indicating he preferred to debrief after the race. Still, the swap eventually took place before the chequered flag.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claimed victory ahead of teammate Lando Norris, while Ferrari’s intra-team drama played out in the midfield for seventh and eighth.

After the race, Hamilton defended his radio outburst. “I’ve still got the fire. I’m a fighter, and I’m not apologising for that,” he said. “We're not fighting for wins — we’re scrapping for seventh. That frustration’s going to boil over sometimes.”

Hamilton added that the delay in the team’s decision left him confused in the heat of battle: “It wasn’t anger. I just wanted them to make a call. We're under pressure out there. Everything's happening fast.”

The strategic disagreement stemmed from Ferrari’s decision to split tyre strategies. Leclerc started on mediums and pitted early for hards. Hamilton, meanwhile, began on hards and switched late to mediums, giving him an edge in pace during the final stint.

Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur later visited Hamilton in his paddock room to address the situation directly.

“Fred came in, and I just told him, ‘Dude, calm down. Don’t be so sensitive,’” Hamilton said. “Some of it was sarcasm. You’ve got to understand the pressure in that cockpit.”

Vasseur maintained that the team handled the situation reasonably. “It took us one lap to make the decision,” he said. “We needed to know if Hamilton’s pace was real or just DRS-assisted. Once we were sure, we acted.”

He added: “We made the call for the benefit of Ferrari, not individuals. Charles and Lewis understood that. We’re all aligned.”

Both drivers dismissed any personal friction. Leclerc said there was “no bad blood” and acknowledged that Hamilton did what any driver would have done in the same situation. “I would have done the same. He had the tyre advantage. That’s racing,” Leclerc stated.

Despite finishing behind rivals, Hamilton struck a more optimistic tone than in previous races. “I feel I’m getting closer to understanding this car,” he said. “There’s performance in it — we just haven’t unlocked it yet. Fix what’s holding us back, and we’ll be fighting with the best again.”

Ferrari’s struggles in Miami underline the broader challenges the team faces in 2025. Though both drivers managed to gain places from their low qualifying positions — 8th and 12th — they remain adrift from the frontrunners.

“We’re not where we want to be,” Leclerc concluded. “Some things need fixing strategically, but the bigger gap is in the car’s performance. That’s the real issue.”


By WafricNews Sport Desk.