In a surprising turn of events at the Miami Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had an early morning meeting, igniting curiosity about the dynamics within Ferrari.
Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari hasn’t been smooth sailing, as he finished a disappointing eighth place at the Miami Grand Prix, lagging more than a minute behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The race was marked by tense radio exchanges between Hamilton and his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, as Ferrari hesitated to execute a strategic position swap with teammate Charles Leclerc. After the race, Hamilton and Vasseur were seen engaging in a meeting, with Hamilton reportedly advising Vasseur to stay calm and not be overly sensitive, following tension-filled moments.
F1 journalist Frederic Ferret revealed on the F1 Nation podcast that the morning meeting between Hamilton and Vasseur was one of several interactions on the race day. Hamilton approached Vasseur to discuss tire strategies, attempting to offer insights rather than complaints. This incident, according to Ferret, shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of discontent, as Hamilton has a history of vocalizing his concerns, similar to his days with Mercedes.
Despite the rocky beginning to the season, where Ferrari sits 152 points behind McLaren after six races, Ferret insists that the atmosphere within Ferrari remains positive. Similar challenges have been faced by prior drivers, including Sebastian Vettel, and the current tension arises from having two competitive drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc vying for dominance. Ferret strongly denied any significant issues, instead attributing perceived conflict to adrenaline and the intense competition within the team.
Leclerc has echoed concerns about the team’s struggles with qualifying pace, a persistent issue forcing drivers to start from less advantageous positions on race day. It’s a situation where Hamilton, renowned for his pole positions, finds himself and Ferrari at a disadvantage due to difficulties in optimizing tire temperature for the car.
While the early meeting between Hamilton and Vasseur raised eyebrows, it’s important to recognize that such discussions are part of the continuous push for improvement in Formula 1. Hamilton, along with Leclerc, remains committed to elevating Ferrari’s performance amidst competitive tensions, striving to overcome the hurdles faced in their 2025 campaign.
