F1 news: Lewis Hamilton responds to radio criticism and calls out double standards

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at criticism over his radio messages with Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami, insisting the situation has been exaggerated.

As the seven-time world champion settles into his new team, he has called out what he sees as double standards in how driver-engineer communications are scrutinised.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Noah Ngcobo breaks down Hamilton’s response.

Hamilton addresses radio controversy

Hamilton has pushed back against scrutiny over his recent radio exchanges with Ferrari race engineer Adami, insisting that the situation has been blown out of proportion.

The seven-time world champion expressed surprise at the level of attention his comments received during the Australian Grand Prix, particularly when compared to the long-standing dynamic between Max Verstappen and his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.

During the race in Melbourne, Hamilton was heard requesting fewer radio communications from Adami as he struggled with his car.

While his remarks were analysed heavily by pundits and fans, Hamilton maintains that his tone was respectful and far from aggressive.

"Naturally, everyone over-egged it. It was literally just a back-and-forth. I was very polite in how I had suggested it. I said: 'Leave it to me, please,'" Hamilton clarified.

"I wasn't swearing or being disrespectful. At that moment, I was struggling with the car and needed full focus."

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Comparisons to Verstappen and Lambiase

Hamilton pointed out the stark contrast in media coverage between his interactions with Adami and the exchanges between Verstappen and Lambiase at Red Bull.

He highlighted that Verstappen has had much more heated moments with his engineer over the years, yet they do not seem to attract the same level of scrutiny.

"The conversations that Max [Verstappen] has had with his engineer over the years - the abuse that poor guy has taken - you never write about that," Hamilton remarked.

"But you wrote about the smallest little discussion I had with mine."

Verstappen has been known for his fiery radio messages, particularly during high-pressure situations.

His exchanges with Lambiase have often been intense, with moments of frustration boiling over, especially at races like the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Despite this, the Dutch driver maintains a strong working relationship with his engineer, with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and other team members frequently defending their dynamic.

A new partnership in progress

Hamilton's partnership with Adami is still in its early stages following his move from Mercedes to Ferrari.

Having worked closely with Peter Bonnington for 12 years at Mercedes, the seven-time world champion acknowledges that adjusting to a new engineer will take time.

"Ultimately, we're just getting to know each other. After the race, we talked and I told him: 'Hey bro, I don't need that bit of information, but if you want to give me this instead, this is where I’d like to hear it.'

“It's about fine-tuning our communication, and there are no issues between us," he explained.

Hamilton remains confident that as he and Adami continue to build their working relationship, they will improve race by race.

"From race to race, we are going to get stronger together, and that's the most important part," he concluded.

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Moving forward

As Hamilton prepares for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix, he remains focused on performance rather than media narratives.

While his radio messages have been dissected in recent weeks, the British driver is keen to move forward, ensuring that his partnership with Adami strengthens with each race.

The controversy surrounding his radio exchanges underscores the intense scrutiny top drivers face, but Hamilton is determined to rise above it, focusing instead on his goal of competing at the highest level with Ferrari.

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