The Miami Grand Prix left Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. A disheartening performance saw Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc finish in seventh and eighth place, respectively. More concerning, however, is the telemetry data that reveals Hamilton’s car was losing nearly a second per lap compared to the victorious McLaren driven by Oscar Piastri.
Ferrari’s team orders during the Miami GP seemed to further demoralize the team, leading to poor results. According to Uros Radovanovic, a data expert, the numbers behind Ferrari’s defeat are quite telling. Hamilton’s car consistently gave up significant time per lap, which has prompted both him and Leclerc to demand private meetings with Ferrari’s management. Their hope is to address the pace and communication issues that plagued them at Miami.
The 2025 season has been far from what Ferrari had envisioned. With only one podium finish so far, they lag 152 points behind the leading McLaren team, making a championship challenge look increasingly unlikely. The timing of these struggles could not be worse, as Ferrari aims to shake off a lackluster start and reestablish its dominance in F1.
Meanwhile, the paddock is buzzing with speculation about potential driver changes. Jack Doohan’s spot as an Alpine race driver seems under threat, with Franco Colapinto expected to replace him at the upcoming race in Imola. Sky F1’s pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz witnessed a touching moment in the Miami GP paddock, where Jack was comforted by his father, Mick Doohan.
Amidst all this drama, Martin Brundle has voiced his opinion that Oscar Piastri possesses more effective racecraft than his McLaren teammate Lando Norris, an observation he believes hasn’t gone unnoticed by Max Verstappen.
Piastri’s third consecutive victory in Miami stirred further controversy, with Red Bull questioning the legality of McLaren’s car, the MCL39. However, Mercedes driver George Russell has publicly stated that he believes McLaren’s car complies with the regulations, putting to rest some of the swirling rumors.
Hamilton’s journey in Miami was particularly rocky. After making it to the top three in qualifying, his subsequent downswing was hard to digest. His famed ‘tea break’ comment during a radio message encapsulated his frustrations with the Miami race.
As Ferrari searches for answers, Hamilton and Leclerc’s requests for internal discussions underscore their urgency to rectify the situation. The Miami Grand Prix served as a wake-up call, highlighting fundamental issues that need addressing if Ferrari hopes to salvage the rest of the season.
The Miami Grand Prix has cast a spotlight on Ferrari’s challenges, with telemetry data and race results telling a concerning story. For Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the call for internal discussions is a clear indication of their commitment to overcoming these hurdles. Yet, with mounting speculation and shifting dynamics within the F1 world, the road ahead for Ferrari, and indeed for Hamilton, is fraught with uncertainty and opportunity. Their journey to resolve these issues will be closely monitored by fans and competitors alike.
