Hamilton Stays Competitive Despite Tensions at Miami Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton firmly stated he wouldn’t apologize for his competitive spirit following some tense exchanges with his former Ferrari team at the Miami Grand Prix.

“I want to win. There’s still fire in my belly,” he expressed. “I’m not going to apologize for being a fighter or for wanting that. I know my team feels the same way.”

Hamilton finished eighth in a race where McLaren’s Oscar Piastri dominated. During the event, Hamilton urged Ferrari to replace him with his former teammate, Charles Leclerc, as he was noticeably faster.

His frustration peaked when the team commented negatively, suggesting he take a “tea break” while in the race. He labeled this as “not teamwork” and sarcastically questioned whether he should abandon his pursuit of Carlos Sainz given the team’s decisions.

Nevertheless, he downplayed the confrontation later, sharing that he spoke with team principal Fred Vasseur after the race.

“Fred came to my room. I put my hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Hey, calm down, don’t be so sensitive,'” he recounted. “I might have said worse on the radio. I’ve heard others express much more, and it was meant to be ironic.”

Hamilton acknowledged that emotions run high during races. He remarked, “You don’t always convey the calmest message when you’re in the thick of it. It wasn’t really angry; it was effective, not blind.” Vasseur supported Hamilton’s concerns, indicating his understanding of the driver’s frustrations.

Vasseur reiterated that the team’s policy allows for position changes to optimize performance, and if no advantages arise, drivers would revert to their original order, just as happened in Miami.