Leclerc’s Sarcastic Radio Jibe at Hamilton Highlights Ferrari Tensions at Imola
During the 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc expressed his frustration over team strategy decisions through a sarcastic radio message involving teammate Lewis Hamilton. This incident underscores the growing tension within the Ferrari camp as both drivers vie for supremacy.
The controversy unfolded on Lap 46 when a full safety car was deployed following Kimi Antonelli’s retirement. Leclerc, running in fourth place, was deliberating a pit stop for soft tires. However, his race engineer, Xavi Marcos, informed him that Hamilton, then in third, preferred not to pit. Leclerc, visibly irritated, retorted, “I don’t care, I don’t care. We’re speaking about ourselves” .
As the safety car period progressed, Hamilton opted to pit, prompting Leclerc to delay his stop to avoid queuing behind his teammate. This hesitation resulted in Leclerc missing the optimal pit window, forcing him to continue on older hard tires. In a pointed radio message, Leclerc remarked, “Yeah yeah, I think we can win the race with Lewis” .
Post-race, Hamilton capitalized on his fresher tires to overtake several competitors, including Leclerc, finishing fourth. Leclerc, unable to defend effectively on worn tires, settled for sixth place. This outcome has intensified scrutiny on Ferrari’s intra-team dynamics and strategic decision-making.
This incident follows a similar episode at the Miami Grand Prix, where both drivers expressed dissatisfaction with team orders and strategy execution. Hamilton’s sarcastic radio comments during that race highlighted underlying issues within the team’s communication and decision-making processes .
As the season progresses, Ferrari faces mounting pressure to harmonize its internal dynamics and optimize race strategies. The team’s ability to manage its star drivers’ ambitions and ensure cohesive decision-making will be pivotal in their quest for championship contention.