Hamilton refuses to apologize for his comments to Ferrari on the radio

Lewis Hamilton may be the second Formula 1 pilot with more experience in history, with 362 large prizes disputed, but insists that he remains as motivated as ever, and says that his controversial radio comments are only proof of this.

Ferrari’s strategy was very criticized in the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, when Hamilton and his partner Charles Leclerc ended up hindering each other, fighting for the same position on the track.

After going out with hard tires since the 12th position of the grill, Hamilton was eighth shortly after his stop in boxes, and he was getting more frustrated with having the Leclerc car right in front of him, now that the Briton wore a softer compound. Speaking to his career engineer, Riccardo Adami, on the radio of the team, complained about “burning his tires”, regretted that “teamwork was not good” and added “take a tea while you are in it.”

Hamilton clarified that his comments were “sarcasm, not even anger”, and added: “I mean, it was all PG (suggested parental guide), at least, right? Of course, I don’t know what they are going to write, if I was disrespectful or whatever.

“I was like, come on, guys, I just want to win. I still have that fire in my belly. I can feel a little of it really getting out of there. I will not apologize for being a fighter. I will not apologize to keep wanting (win). And I know that everyone also in the team too.”

Ferrari ended up asking Leclerc to let his teammate, but Hamilton failed to cut the advantage of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, which was ahead, and Dilemma himself considered again -at the same time -since the hard and more durable rubber of Leclerc proved to be more competitive towards the end of the race.

Hamilton finally took aside for his teammate to have the opportunity to reach Antonelli, although red cars – and, this time, blue – ended seventh and eighth. The team head, Frederic Vasseur, wanted to clarify things with his pilots to maintain harmony inside the team.

“In this situation, (Hamilton) has to understand what my feeling was in the Pitwall,” said Vasseur. “He can trust me, I can trust him, and the same with Charles.”

“When I have to make a decision, I am making a decision for Ferrari with the element you have live. It is not that you have 30 minutes to take a look at the data and others. You have to decide who is the fastest on the track, if it comes from the DRS or not. Maybe I am a bit slow, but it took me a turn or a half and a half make a decision.”

“When you are behind, you have the feeling that you have to change in the next curve, and when you are in front, you say ‘please, take a look if it is not the effect of the DRS’. I think it was the reverse situation 10 laps later.”

Miami’s career was the first Grand Prix this season in which Ferrari could not fight for the podium at all, but Hamilton is still convinced that better times will come, with the next updates, and the strict flexibility tests of the front wing flexibility, which the Scuderia expects to have a positive impact on their performance in relation to their rivals.

“I really believe that when we solve some of the problems we have with the car, we will be in the fight with the Mercedes, with the Red Bull. And I cannot wait,” said the seven -time world champion.

“We will try something different in the next race. We will continue working on our processes. I am looking forward to the time when I can fight for a podium. That would be fine.”