Lewis Hamilton’s rocky start at Ferrari took another difficult turn at the Miami Grand Prix, where the seven-time world champion clashed with his team over strategy decisions and race management. Still adapting to life in red, Hamilton found himself battling more with his garage than his rivals on the track.
Hamilton had to work his way up the field after a disappointing qualifying session that saw him start in 12th. He eventually caught up to his teammate Leclerc, who was running in seventh. At this stage, tension mounted as Hamilton felt the team was too slow to respond to his request to pass the Monagasque driver. The delay sparked a series of sarcastic radio messages that emphasised the growing impatience between the Briton and his new team.
Despite the team’s eventual approval of the position swap, Hamilton’s subsequent lack of significant progress led to the decision to switch back to Leclerc. Ultimately, he finished in eighth place, a disappointing outcome in his challenging debut season with the Scuderia. After the race, Hamilton convened with team principal Fred Vasseur to reconcile and resolve any issues.
While the French team boss stood by the decisions made by his engineers, he acknowledged Hamilton’s frustrations. The Ferrari policy of prioritizing the team over individual ambition was reinforced, with Vasseur emphasizing that such decisions are never easy, particularly when championship-calibre drivers are involved. Vasseur described the heated Miami exchange as part of the expected emotional intensity from top-level competitors.
Hamilton has yet to reach the podium in the first six races of the 2025 Formula One season. His best finish so far was fifth place in Bahrain, and while he did enjoy a morale-boosting sprint race victory in China, consistent Sunday performances have proven elusive. The Miami result adds to a trend of Ferrari underperforming relative to front-runners like McLaren and Mercedes, who have shown far stronger pace and consistency this season.
Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the sport’s most high-profile moves recently, but the adjustment has not been smooth. Ferrari has struggled to deliver a competitive package, and Hamilton has openly admitted that the team is currently lacking in performance. According to him, the recent races have exposed clear weaknesses, particularly in terms of pace and strategy execution. Despite making gains on medium tires in Miami, a lack of safety car intervention and track position hindered any chance of challenging the leaders.
Team dynamics have also become a focus. Hamilton had previously allowed Leclerc to pass him in China while they were on different strategies, and he pointed this out over the radio during the race in Miami. This time, the lack of urgency in reciprocating the favour fueled his reaction. Though he later maintained that his comments came from a desire to win rather than anger, the incident highlighted the pressures within Ferrari’s camp as they try to balance two of their star drivers with high expectations.
Off the track, Hamilton showed no signs of lingering tension as he attended the 2025 Met Gala in New York just 24 hours after the Miami race. As a co-chair for the event, Hamilton attracted attention with his stylish white double-breasted suit and matching beret. His presence on the blue carpet provided a striking contrast to the intense discussions from the previous day, showcasing his seamless transition from a racer to a cultural icon.
Hamilton’s ability to stay composed in public while fiercely competing on the track continues to define his legacy. Yet, the challenge of delivering success with Ferrari remains a major question for the rest of the season. With both the team and its newest star under scrutiny, the next few races will be crucial in determining whether this partnership can find its rhythm or face more growing pains.
As the championship heads into Europe, all eyes will be on Ferrari to produce the performance gains needed to close the gap to the front. For Hamilton, the desire is still burning. But Ferrari’s ability to quickly resolve the issues holding them back will determine whether that fire can turn into results.
