Revealed: Ferrari team radio exposes painful strategic chaos

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Ferrari endured an underwhelming Miami Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing a disappointing seventh and eighth, respectively. Even more egregious was the confusion and poor communication between the Italian team and its two drivers during a critical phase of the full-distance race in Florida. Leclerc and Hamilton lined up for the round at the Miami International Autodrome in eighth and P12, with the latter utilising the off-set strategy by starting on the white-walled hard tyres. This brought him back into play on account of the Ollie Bearman-induced virtual safety car on lap 28, with the British driver switching onto the quicker medium Pirellis for the remainder of the 57-lap grand prix. After Gabriel Bortoleto triggered a second VSC on lap 33, Hamilton took advantage of his softer rubber, dispatching of Carlos Sainz to take eighth place, directly behind his Ferrari team-mate who made the same move. Tucked up in the gearbox of the other SF-25, Hamilton pushed the Scuderia to release him, in order to set off after Kimi Antonelli ahead in sixth. The seven-time F1 drivers' champion's frustrations started to grow on lap 35, and escalated as Ferrari dithered over invoking team orders. Having waited three laps to ultimately make the call and the switch the drivers, Hamilton was unable to make inroads on the Mercedes, with the team opting to switch the drivers back, catching the ire of the 40-year-old in the process. Hamilton's team radio transcript is below. Article continues thereafter. Hamilton team radio transcript Lap 35 Hamilton: How far are people ahead of Charles? I'm just burning up my tyres behind him. Riccardo Adami: Understood, Antonelli is six seconds ahead of Charles. Lap 36 Hamilton: You want me to just sit here the whole race? Adami: I'll come back to you... Lap 37 Adami: Want to keep the DRS to Charles. Go ahead like this... Hamilton: Man, you guys... Lap 38 Hamilton: This is not good teamwork, that's all I'm going to say. Hamilton: In China, I got out the way when you wanted me to. Adami: Understood, we swap positions. Hamilton: Have a tea break while you're at it. Come on! Leclerc lets Hamilton through into Turn 17 Lap 39 Hamilton: You've seen I've just used up my tyres. Lap 51 Adami: We're going to swap the cars in [Turn] 17. Hamilton: You don't think I'm going to catch up, or what? Adami: Yes. Lap 52 Adami: We will follow, swap in [Turn] 11 please. Hamilton lets Leclerc through into Turn 11 Adami: Sainz 1.4 [seconds] behind. Hamilton: You want me to let him past as well? strategic chaos The hesitancy on Ferrari's part heavily contributed to Hamilton not being able to sufficiently close on Antonelli, but the indecision was not over for the Maranello-based squad. With the 105-time grand prix winner unable to get within two seconds of the W16 up the road, Ferrari felt it was time to reserve the positions - as had been promised to its Monegasque driver. After that call had been made to switch the pair back, with Leclerc suffering in the same manner his team-mate had been, the Prancing Horse made a mess of communicating that change to Hamilton, who was not made aware of the orders in a timely fashion. Not only did it allow Carlos Sainz behind to close up on the British driver, almost passing him on the final lap, the whole episode may have cost Hamilton - or Leclerc - the opportunity to take sixth. Ultimately, the damning team radio transcripts underline the strategic chaos unfolding on the Ferrari pit wall, as the team struggled to execute effective and efficient decision making. Leclerc's team radio transcript is below. Leclerc team radio transcript Lap 38 Bryan Bozzi: We swap the cars in Turn 17 to give Hamilton a chance on medium. If he doesn't pass, we'll let him back. Leclerc lets Hamilton through into Turn 17 Bozzi: Careful with Carlos [Sainz] behind. Lap 39 Leclerc: Ah, that's stupid! I didn't know Carlos was that close. Bozzi: Sainz, no DRS. Bozzi: Sainz, DRS. 18 laps to go. Lap 40 Leclerc: I need Lewis to go faster, I've just dirty air now. Lap 42 Leclerc: I'm stuck now. Lap 44 Bozzi: Gap mid minus one. You have DRS [to Hamilton]. We stay like this whilst catching Antonelli. Lap 46 Bozzi: Turn 7-8. Brake, release and then early throttle. Leclerc: I am overheating tyres... I'm saying that because that's where I'm reaching, 7-8. Tyres are warm. Lap 49 Leclerc: Are we coming back on Antonelli? Bozzi: We are, but quite slowly. Lap 50 Bozzi: How much faster could you go in free air? Leclerc: I have no idea, if I have no overheating... I have no idea. Lap 51 Bozzi: And we will swap the cars in Turn 11 now. Hamilton does not let Leclerc through into Turn 11 Bozzi: So Lewis was not informed. He's been informed now. We will swap the cars into Turn 17. Hamilton does not let Leclerc through into Turn 17 Bozzi: We'll try again next lap. Lap 52 Bozzi: Swap with Lewis in [Turn] 11. Hamilton lets Leclerc through into Turn 11