Hamilton not apologising for 'being a fighter' after Miami row with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton refused to apologise for his sarcastic radio exchanges with Ferrari at the Miami Grand Prix, explaining his outburst came because he is still a "fighter".
It was another disappointing weekend for Hamilton, who, after a third-place finish in Saturday's sprint, could only manage eighth in Sunday's race.
And the seven-time world champion's frustrations boiled over on Sunday after Ferrari took their time responding to his request for team-mate Charles Leclerc to let him through.
"Have a tea break while you're at it. Come on!," Hamilton said over the radio after finally being let past the Monegasque as he looked to chase down Kimi Antonelli.
But he was unable to make up any ground on the teenager, with the positions reversed, though Hamilton was being hunted down by the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
"You want me to let him past as well?," Hamilton quipped with the gap at just 1.4 seconds to Sainz once he had allowed Leclerc to pass him in the closing stages of the race.
Sainz and Hamilton almost collided on the final lap as the former Ferrari driver looked to squeeze down the inside, but the Brit held on to add four more points to his season total.
"I've still got my fire in my belly. I could feel a bit of it really coming up there," Hamilton said following the race.
"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.
"I didn't think the decision came quick enough. And 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. I think we could do better. But the car is not where we really need to be. Ultimately, we're fighting for seventh and eighth."
Not our day in Miami pic.twitter.com/pPrlUTbfnx
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 4, 2025
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur defended the team's handling of the team orders situation, but did acknowledge Hamilton's frustrations after the race.
"My concern is not that he has to speak with TV. It's that we need to be clear between us that, in this situation, he has to understand what was my feeling on the pit wall," he said.
"He can trust me, I can trust him and the same with Charles. And when I have to take a decision, I'm taking a decision for Ferrari."
Hamilton added: "Fred came to my room. I just put my hand on his shoulder and was like, 'Dude, calm down. Don't be so sensitive.'
"I could have said way worse things on the radio. You hear some of the things others have said in the past.
"Some of it was sarcasm. Look, you've got to understand we're under a huge amount of pressure within the car.
"You're never going to get the most peaceful messages coming through in the heat of the battle. It was fine."
Hamilton will be hopeful of a better performance next time out at Ferrari's home race at the Italian Grand Prix in Imola, which takes place on May 18.