Hamilton makes no apologies for radio comments: 'I've still got that fire in me'

21:43, 05 May

byNorberto Mujica

One of the most entertaining bits of the Miami Grand Prix was the exchange between Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari pitwall, something the British champion makes no apologies for.

During the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton didn't just battle other cars on track. For a large part of the race, it seemed as though the British champion was at odds with his own team as well, as he felt Ferrari did not instruct teammate Charles Leclerc to let him by quickly enough, as he felt he had more pace at that point in the race.

Whilst people might have anticipated a storm incoming for Ferrari, Hamilton was quick to dismiss those theories after the race in Miami.

"We lost a lot of time in those laps where Charles and I were passing [each other] and I was clearly quicker in that moment and I didn't think the decision came quick enough."

"For sure, in that time, you're like, 'come on!'. But that's really kind of it. I have no problems with the team or with Charles," said Hamilton to media like GPblog, downplaying his comments.

Lewis Hamilton leading Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and Williams driver Carlos Sainz

Hamilton told Vasseur to calm down after the race

The British driver then revealed Ferrari team principal went to speak with him to address the situation.

"Fred came to my room, I just put my hand on his shoulder and like, dude, calm down, it's like, don't be so sensitive. It's like, I could have said way worse things on the radio. You can hear some of the things other people have said in the past. It was just... some of it was sarcasm.'

"Look, you've got to understand, we're under a huge amount of pressure within the cars. You're never going to get the most peaceful messages come through in the heat of the battle."

Lewis Hamilton battling Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and Williams driver Carlos Sainz for P7

Hamilton only 'wants to win' and points to the SF-25 as the central issue

For Hamilton his dynamic over the radio with Ferrari at Miami is proof of two things, that he's 'still got the fire in him', and that the Scuderia's car is not where it needs to be.

"I just I want to win. [I've] still got that fire in my belly.I could feel a little bit of it like really coming out there and I'm not gonna apologise for being a fighter, I'm not gonna apologise for still wanting it and I know everyone in the team does too."

"I truly believe that when we fix some of the problems that we have with the car we'll be back in the fight with the Mercedes, with the [Red] Bulls and it just can't come quick enough."