The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix unfolded as yet another challenging event for Ferrari, marked by notable tensions evident in the radio communications between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer. Hamilton finished the race in fifth place, while his teammate Charles Leclerc secured a commendable second position, resulting in Ferrari achieving its best total points score from a non-sprint weekend this season. Despite the positive outcome in terms of points, neither driver appeared particularly jubilant in the aftermath of the race. Hamilton, in particular, exhibited a noticeably subdued demeanor during his post-race interviews.
Leclerc, who had aimed for a stronger performance after contending for pole position during Saturday’s qualifying, seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the final result. Hamilton, on the other hand, faced a setback as he dropped three grid positions due to a penalty incurred for obstructing Max Verstappen at Massenet during the first qualifying session. This incident, which stemmed from a miscommunication from his team regarding Verstappen’s position on track, initiated a sequence of events that left Hamilton feeling trapped in a competitive void throughout the race.
The radio exchanges between Hamilton and his engineer, Riccardo Adami, underscored the tension. Following the race, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur attempted to downplay any notion of discord between Hamilton and the team. He explained the communication protocols in place, stating, “When the driver is asking something between Turn 1 and Turn 3, we have to wait until he reaches the tunnel to respond, to avoid speaking with him during the corners.” Vasseur emphasized that their silence wasn’t a lack of attention or engagement, but rather a strategic decision to ensure clear communication during critical moments on the track.
Vasseur continued, “It’s not that we are sleeping, it’s not that we are having a beer on the pit wall; it’s simply due to a section of the track where we agreed to communicate with him.” He recognized the pressure Hamilton faced while racing at high speeds, stating, “He’s fighting at 300 km/h between the walls. I spoke with him after the race, and he was not upset at all.”
While Vasseur’s explanation seemed reasonable, it felt somewhat generic, especially considering the unusual exchanges captured on the team’s radio communications. The most striking interaction occurred post-race when Adami informed Hamilton, “It’s a P5. Lost a lot of time in traffic. The rest we need to investigate. And pick up [spent tire rubber] please.” Hamilton responded, expressing his gratitude to the team for repairing the car after a crash in Saturday’s practice session, remarking, “It’s not been the easiest of weekends, but we live to fight another day, so… yeah.” Following this, a notable silence ensued, until Hamilton broke the quiet with a probing question: “Are you upset with me or something?” However, he received no response.
Such exchanges merit careful consideration, particularly when broadcasted on television, as Formula 1 has a history of presenting team radio discussions in a way that can exaggerate the drama. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that this conversation unfolded as described. It was preceded by another exchange during the race, wherein Hamilton inquired about the cars ahead of him—comprised of Verstappen, Lando Norris, Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri—wondering if they were “still nearly a minute ahead.” Adami’s reply about Leclerc and the McLarens battling in Turn 16 failed to satisfy Hamilton, who retorted, “You’re not answering the question.” After some back and forth, Adami eventually clarified that Leclerc was “48 seconds ahead.”
The tone of these conversations cannot be entirely understood in isolation, particularly when taking into account Hamilton’s performance on track. If he truly was not upset during his post-race conversation with Vasseur, it was evident that he had regained his composure between the media area and the team principal’s office. Hamilton crossed the finish line 51.387 seconds after race winner Norris and 48.256 seconds after Leclerc, a gap that surely left him frustrated, especially considering he spent the race in what he described as “no man’s land,” a direct consequence of the team’s miscommunication regarding Verstappen’s pace during qualifying.
The grid penalty forced Hamilton into a position behind Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin for the initial phase of the race. Although he managed to overtake both drivers after they pitted, Hamilton had already lost valuable time—12 seconds—compared to his teammate due to the front group’s superior tire management strategy. Leclerc’s pit stop on lap 23 was costlier in terms of lap time than Hamilton’s, yet the general trend indicated a growing gap between the two drivers. Between laps 33 and 39, Hamilton consistently lost between one and three seconds per lap to Leclerc.
Additionally, data from Hamilton’s in-lap and out-lap during his pit stop at the end of lap 56 revealed further time losses. Some of these delays were attributed to traffic, as the Racing Bulls and Williams executed a strategy where one driver congested the field to allow their teammate to pit without losing time. The gap between Alex Albon, who was in 11th place on lap 57, and Nico Hulkenberg in 18th was only 11 seconds. While the slower cars generally moved aside for the leading quartet, they were less accommodating when Hamilton approached, contributing to his significant time deficit.
Much of the 48-second gap between Hamilton and the leaders can be traced back to his challenges in adapting to the performance characteristics of the Ferrari SF-25. Hamilton attributed his difficulties to a lack of familiarity with the car’s inherent traits, stating, “This weekend it’s been a bit of a steep learning curve.” These small discrepancies in performance, accumulating over the race distance, ultimately resulted in a significant overall time loss.
In the wake of the Monaco Grand Prix, the ongoing dynamics within the Ferrari team and the relationship between Hamilton and his engineers will be under scrutiny. While the team efforts and individual performances yielded valuable points, the underlying tensions and communication issues observed throughout the weekend raise questions about the cohesion and effectiveness of the team moving forward in the 2025 season.
Ferrari’s management will need to examine their communication strategies and ensure that their drivers feel supported and informed throughout the race. Hamilton’s experience at Monaco serves as a reminder of the complexities of Formula 1 racing, where split-second decisions and clear communication are essential for success. As the season progresses, it will be crucial for the team to address these challenges to maximize their potential and provide their drivers with the tools they need to compete effectively.
With the next races on the horizon, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Ferrari navigates these issues and whether they can capitalize on the points scored at Monaco while improving their overall team dynamics. As always in Formula 1, the pursuit of excellence is relentless, and the teams that can adapt quickly will be the ones that thrive in the competitive landscape of the sport.
