Lewis Hamilton has denied he was intending to come across as “angry” or “disrespectful” with his radio messages with Ferrari during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Hamilton had capitalised on running a contra-strategy to Charles Leclerc to emerge as the quicker Ferrari on the Medium compound as the second stint commenced.
However, Ferrari showed an initial reluctance to swap the two, leading Hamilton to bemoan that he was using up his rubber running in the turbulent air behind Leclerc.
But although a change then occurred on Lap 39, Hamilton was unable to shake Leclerc’s presence and Ferrari elected to invert the cars again with five laps remaining.
Hamilton, who lagged home one spot behind Leclerc in eighth, insisted that Ferrari spurned the chance to achieve a better result with the hold-up in allowing him past.
“We lost a lot of time in those laps where Charles and I were battling, and I was clearly quicker in that moment and I didn’t think the decision came quick enough,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
“For sure, in that time you’re like, come on! But that’s really kind of it.
“I have no problems with either the team or with Charles. I think we can do better. We’re ultimately fighting for seventh and eighth.”
Hamilton conceded that the laps he spent trailing in his team-mate’s wake meant the peak potential in his Medium tyres had gone once he was released into clean air.
“Yeah, I lost quite a bit of the tyres in that,” he added. “We were battling for position at the end of the day.
“It would have been great if we could have done what Valtteri [Bottas] and I did back in Budapest years ago [in 2017]. See if I can catch him. If I can’t, then move back.
“But ultimately, it didn’t work out. Whether or not we could have overtaken him, at the end of the day, we were not quick enough.
“That’s probably where the frustration always comes from. But we’ll keep our heads up. We’ll keep pushing.”
Hamilton clarifies radio remarks
Hamilton seemed incensed with Ferrari’s instruction to return the place, as being told Carlos Sainz was close behind saw him respond: “Want me to let him past, too?”
But the seven-time champion has dismissed that he was getting heated in the car as he explained that his desire not to waste time provoked his tetchy radio remarks.
“It wasn’t even anger,” he expressed. “It wasn’t like I was left in the blind or anything like that. It was just like, come on, let’s make a decision.
“You’re sitting there on the chair. You’ve got the stuff in front of you. Make the decision quick. That’s how I was.
“I’m like, ‘we’re in a panic. We’re trying to keep the car on the track. Compute things fast.
“It was all PG, at least! he quipped. “For sure, I don’t know what you’re going to write, whether I was disrespectful or whatever. Honestly, I didn’t feel it.
“It was just like, come on, guys. I want to win. I still got that fire in my belly. I can feel a little bit of it really coming up there.
“I’m not going to apologise for being a fighter. I’m not going to apologise for still wanting it. I know everyone in the team does too.
READ MORE – Charles Leclerc: ‘No bad feelings’ with Lewis Hamilton after Ferrari’s Miami fiasco
From 12th to 8th is pretty good when you consider Charles didn’t gain a single spot.
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