Ferrari team orders explained after China GP drama
Ferrari clarifies team radio misunderstanding, revealing Hamilton's proactive role in driver swap during dramatic Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
The Ferrari team orders saga from the Chinese Grand Prix took an unexpected turn, with Formula 1 and team principal Fred Vasseur addressing the misconstrued radio communications that sparked widespread speculation about driver tensions.
The misunderstood moment
During the race, viewers heard fragmented team radio messages suggesting a potentially contentious driver swap between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The broadcast captured Hamilton's seemingly reluctant responses to instructions about changing positions, creating immediate drama among Ferrari fans.
"We are swapping cars in Turn 14,"
Hamilton's race engineer Riccardo Adami instructed. Hamilton's initial response:
"When he's closer, yeah."
What went unnoticed was a crucial piece of context. Hamilton himself had originally suggested the swap, acknowledging his performance struggles.
Behind the scenes
Vasseur revealed the true nature of the interaction, calling the media speculation "a joke."
He emphasized that Hamilton proactively recommended letting Leclerc pass, demonstrating team collaboration.
"It's Lewis who asked to swap,"
Vasseur explained.
"From the pitwall we really appreciated the call from Lewis to say, 'Guys, I'm losing the pace, I'm keen to swap.'"
Broadcast oversight explained
Formula 1's management subsequently contacted Vasseur to clarify the situation.
A spokesperson confirmed the omission of Hamilton's initial message was an unintentional oversight, not a deliberate attempt to manufacture drama.
"There was absolutely no intention of presenting a misleading narrative,"
the F1 representative stated. The missing radio message would have provided critical context about the drivers' cooperative approach.
Broader context
The incident arrived amid Hamilton's early integration with Ferrari, following his dominant sprint performance.
Despite the technical complications that ultimately saw both drivers disqualified, the team remains focused on building a strong partnership.
Vasseur praised the drivers' relationship, stating,
"The collaboration between the two guys is mega, I can't complain a single second about something."
Looking ahead, the team appears committed to transparent communication and collaborative racing strategies.
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