Revealed: Lewis Hamilton called emergency Ferrari meeting

Lewis Hamilton’s turbulent first season in Ferrari red reached another flash-point in Miami when the seven-time World Champion called an unscheduled 9 a.m. meeting with team principal Fred Vasseur on race day.



The driver instigated the discussion after a coffee-area encounter, determined to talk tyres and strategy before the lights went out rather than allow simmering doubts to linger through the Grand Prix itself.



A Driver Steering the Conversation



French journalist Frédéric Ferret revealed that Hamilton “went to speak with Fred” specifically to understand how the team planned to manage tyre degradation on the abrasive Miami asphalt.



Ferret stressed there was “not at all a problem” between the pair; instead, Hamilton’s proactive approach mirrored the direct feedback style he once employed with engineer Peter Bonnington at Mercedes.







Miami Frustrations Set the Scene



Hamilton arrived at the circuit nursing disappointment after finishing eighth a week earlier, a result shaped by tense radio exchanges in which he urged Ferrari to “calm down” and “don’t be so sensitive.”



Those remarks followed the team’s hesitation to invert his car with Charles Leclerc’s during the race, a delay that cost both drivers precious time.



Ferret’s Reassuring Perspective



The reporter insisted the atmosphere inside Maranello remains “100 per cent harmonious” despite the headlines. He likened the current tension to Sebastian Vettel’s era of exasperation, noting that strong personalities inevitably clash when two elite drivers share one garage.



Ferret even echoed Leclerc’s own complaint that Ferrari’s biggest weakness is qualifying pace, not race-day speed.



Hamilton’s Championship Reality Check



This season’s statistics underline the point. After six rounds, Ferrari trail McLaren by a hefty margin, while Hamilton still searches for his first podium in red. He has admitted the transition is harder than expected and has openly forecast a “year of doom and gloom” if solutions are not found soon.



Vasseur’s Balancing Act



For Vasseur, who was hired for his calm authority, Hamilton’s candour is both a blessing and a challenge. The French team boss must weigh the veteran’s instinctive race management against Leclerc’s long-standing place in the squad. Ensuring neither driver feels marginalised is crucial if Ferrari hope to claw back lost ground.



Lessons From Mercedes



At Mercedes, Hamilton often dealt bluntly with radio issues, yet success masked those flashpoints. Ferrari now face the same dynamic without the buffer of a dominant car.



The Miami meeting suggests Hamilton is keen to bring Mercedes-level transparency to his new home, pressing for clear directives hours before the visor goes down.



A Wider Competitive Context



Hamilton’s frustrations are compounded by Oscar Piastri’s surge at McLaren and Max Verstappen’s relentless threat at Red Bull. Ferrari cannot afford strategic miscues while rivals operate with near-flawless execution. Every missed call magnifies pressure on both the pit wall and cockpit.



Tyres, Temperature, and Time



Ferret pinpointed tyre warm-up as Ferrari’s chief headache. Hamilton is statistically F1’s greatest pole-sitter, yet he and Leclerc struggle to switch the rubber on in qualifying, starting each Sunday in dirty air. Until that is solved, even perfect race strategy will struggle to offset grid deficits.



Calm Heads for the Long Haul



After the Miami debrief Hamilton reiterated that “there is not at all a problem” with Vasseur, framing his morning visit as a constructive step.




Kimi Antonelli sidelined as George Russell drives W15 mule https://t.co/7qrrzJ7AiC — Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 10, 2025




By tackling issues head-on, the 40-year-old hopes to prevent small cracks from widening into team-splitting fractures.



Next Steps Toward Redemption



Ferrari leave Miami determined to refine their pre-race communication flow and improve Saturday performance. Hamilton’s direct dialogue with Vasseur could mark a turning point if the team translate words into action.



With 18 races still ahead, the Scuderia retain time to reshape their narrative—provided harmony endures long enough for technical upgrades to bite.
The post Revealed: Lewis Hamilton called emergency Ferrari meeting appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .