The 2025 Miami Grand Prix was a rollercoaster for Ferrari, with tensions boiling over between Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and the team’s pit wall. A race marked by controversial team orders and fiery radio exchanges culminated in a stunning post-race statement from Leclerc that left Hamilton and Ferrari reeling. The Scuderia’s lackluster performance, finishing seventh and eighth, exposed deeper issues within the team, and Leclerc’s candid words have sparked intense speculation about Ferrari’s future.
The drama began mid-race as Ferrari’s split strategies saw Leclerc on hard tires and Hamilton on mediums, the latter closing in on his teammate. Hamilton, sensing an opportunity to chase Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli for sixth, grew frustrated when Ferrari initially ordered him to hold position behind Leclerc to benefit from DRS. His radio erupted with sarcasm: “Have a tea break while you’re at it!” and complaints about “not good teamwork.” After several laps, Ferrari relented, instructing Leclerc to yield. However, Hamilton couldn’t close the gap to Antonelli, and in a surprising twist, Ferrari ordered the drivers to swap back, allowing Leclerc to reclaim seventh. Hamilton’s exasperation was palpable, sarcastically asking if he should also let Carlos Sainz’s Williams through.
Post-race, Leclerc’s statement to the media, including DAZN F1, sent shockwaves through the paddock. “We didn’t do anything wrong as drivers, but as a team, the decisions were not right. It’s not about trying—we *have* to do better,” he said. His blunt assessment laid bare Ferrari’s strategic missteps and lack of pace, with the team trailing McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes. Leclerc’s frustration wasn’t directed at Hamilton, whom he absolved of blame, saying, “There’s no bad feelings with Lewis. I understand he wanted to maximize, just as I did.” Yet, his insistence on internal discussions and his damning verdict—“we lost time, and seeing how close we were to Antonelli, it’s a real shame”—underscored a growing discontent.
Hamilton, meanwhile, was unapologetic about his fiery radio outbursts. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he revealed a tense but candid exchange with team principal Fred Vasseur post-race, saying, “I told Fred not to be so sensitive. I could’ve said worse.” Hamilton emphasized his competitive drive, stating, “I’m not going to apologize for being a fighter.” While he acknowledged the team’s struggles, he echoed Leclerc’s call for internal talks to address the chaos, admitting the double swap cost them valuable time.
Vasseur defended Ferrari’s handling of the situation, insisting to Sky Sports F1 that the team “did a good job” despite the drivers’ frustrations. He explained the delay in swapping positions was to assess whether Hamilton’s pace advantage was due to DRS, and the swap-back adhered to team policy. However, with Ferrari languishing 152 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, Vasseur’s optimism rang hollow. He admitted McLaren was “on another planet” but maintained Ferrari’s race pace was competitive with Red Bull and Mercedes, a claim Leclerc’s performance—finishing nearly a minute behind race winner Oscar Piastri—did little to support.
Leclerc’s statement has ignited debates about Ferrari’s direction. His “extreme” setup changes, which have given him an edge over Hamilton in qualifying, highlight his adaptation to the SF-25’s quirks, while Hamilton struggles to find his rhythm. The Monegasque’s call for urgent improvement signals a potential shift in team dynamics, with Leclerc asserting his leadership. As Ferrari heads to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the pressure is on to resolve these tensions and unlock the car’s potential. For now, Leclerc’s words have laid bare a stark reality: without change, Ferrari’s championship dreams remain out of reach.
