The Ferrari saga at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix was a spectacle of frustration, miscommunication, and a glaring lack of pace that no amount of team orders drama could overshadow. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, two of Formula 1’s biggest names, found themselves embroiled in a public spat over Ferrari’s strategy, but the real story lies beneath the surface: Ferrari is in a crisis, and the radio exchanges were just a symptom of deeper issues.
During the race, Hamilton, starting 12th, clawed his way through the field on medium tires, only to find himself stuck behind Leclerc, who was on harder compounds. The seven-time champion’s frustration boiled over as he urged Ferrari to let him pass, sarcastically suggesting they “have a tea break” while deliberating. Ferrari eventually complied, but Hamilton couldn’t capitalize, failing to close the gap to Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. The team then reversed the positions, prompting more biting radio comments from Hamilton, who asked if he should let Williams’ Carlos Sainz through too. Leclerc, meanwhile, expressed his own discontent, noting the team’s decisions were costing them both time.
This public back-and-forth grabbed headlines, with Italian media quick to label Hamilton’s Ferrari dream as a “crisis.” But the real embarrassment was Ferrari’s performance. Finishing seventh and eighth, nearly a minute behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the Scuderia was outpaced not just by McLaren but also by Williams. Ferrari’s SF-25 struggled with braking zones and corner exits, losing significant time in Miami’s technical sectors. Telemetry data revealed Leclerc hemorrhaging over 0.4 seconds to Max Verstappen in the first sector alone, with oversteer and poor rear grip plaguing both drivers. The team’s inability to optimize new tires in qualifying—Hamilton languishing in P12, Leclerc in P8—set the stage for their Sunday struggles.
Team principal Fred Vasseur defended the strategy, arguing the swaps were executed per Ferrari’s internal rules. He claimed the team’s race pace matched Red Bull and Mercedes, pinning the poor result on bad grid positions. Yet, this explanation rings hollow when Ferrari is 152 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, languishing in fourth. Hamilton, with just 41 points, trails Piastri by 90 in the Drivers’ standings. Vasseur’s insistence that upgrades and front wing tests will turn things around feels like a prayer rather than a plan.
Leclerc and Hamilton, to their credit, downplayed personal tensions. Leclerc insisted there were “no bad feelings,” emphasizing the need for internal discussions to address strategic blunders. Hamilton, unapologetic about his “fighter” mentality, clarified his radio sarcasm wasn’t anger but frustration at Ferrari’s indecision. Their unity in demanding better from the team highlights the real issue: Ferrari’s car and strategy are failing them. The Miami GP wasn’t just a one-off; it’s part of a season-long pattern of underperformance, with only one podium finish to show for 2025.
As Ferrari heads to Imola, the pressure is mounting. Italian reports hint at “deep cracks” in Hamilton’s integration, but the narrative of driver discord is a distraction. The true crisis is Ferrari’s inability to deliver a competitive car and cohesive strategy. Fans and pundits alike are left wondering if the Scuderia can salvage the season or if this is the start of a longer decline. For now, the Hamilton-Leclerc drama is just noise—Ferrari’s real battle is with itself.
