Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Formula 1, Motorsport, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton slammed his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in an explosive radio exchange at the Miami Grand Prix.
Hamilton, 40, was not pleased with his team at the Miami Grand Prix after they made a decision he appeared to disagree with.
With Leclerc in seventh and Hamilton, who was making ground and closed the gap to under one second, in eighth, the English driver explained how his tyres were burning up waiting behind his teammate.
"I'm just burning up my tyres behind him,” Hamilton said via his team radio.
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Hamilton went on to ask the Ferrari team if he was just going to be made to hold position for the rest of the race, to which the engineer replied: “I'll come back to you."
Former F1 champion Damon Hill agreed with Hamilton’s frustration and said: “The longer Lewis Hamilton stays behind Charles Leclerc, the worse his tyres will be and the less his chance will be of getting another point for the team,” when speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Want to keep the DRS to Charles,” Ferrari told Hamilton. “Go ahead like this."
The 40-year-old replied: “Man, you guys.”
He added: “In China, I got out of the way."
The engineer said: “Understood, we swapped the cars."
To which Hamilton answered: “Have a tea break while you're at it! Come on..."
Hamilton then passed his teammate before the team swapped back on lap 53, allowing Leclerc a shot at passing Kimi Antonelli, who was ahead of him.
The confusion continued as Leclerc tried to catch the Mercedes rookie, meanwhile Hamilton was being pursued by Williams’ Carlos Sainz.
"Do you want me to let him pass as well?” Hamilton fumed.
Hamilton finished eighth while Leclerc finished seventh. McLaren's Oscar Piastri won the race, while his teammate Norris came second as Mercedes' George Russell completed the podium in third.
Max Verstappen will, no doubt, be disappointed with his fourth-place finish.
1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
2. Lando Norris (McLaren)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
5. Alex Albon (Williams)
6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
8. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
11. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
12. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
15. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
16. Lance Stroll (Asron Martin)
DNF. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
DNF. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
DNF. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
DNF. Jack Doohan (Alpine)
