Ferrari Faces Backlash After Misleading Radio Message During Lewis Hamilton’s Mexican GP Fiasco
In a dramatic twist during the Mexico City Grand Prix, Ferrari has found itself in the crosshairs of controversy as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, Riccardo Adami, delivered a misleading radio message that sparked confusion and outrage among fans and pundits alike. The incident unfolded as Hamilton battled fiercely with Max Verstappen, but his race took a nosedive following a contentious 10-second penalty.
The clash began when Hamilton was assessed for leaving the track at Turn 4—an action deemed to have gained him an unfair advantage over Verstappen. After an intense wheel-to-wheel duel early in the race, Hamilton’s misstep at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez led to him veering off the racing line and into the dirty runoff area. The situation escalated when he rejoined the track at Turn 6, prompting race officials to take action.
Adami’s radio message to Hamilton was anything but clear: “We have a 10-second penalty for the incident at Turn 4 with Verstappen. We don’t agree.” This statement has drawn sharp criticism from former F1 driver Karun Chandhok, who lambasted Ferrari’s communication strategy. “That’s poor communication because you’ve unnecessarily riled up the driver without giving him all of the facts,” Chandhok stated emphatically. “He’s not been given a penalty for the incident; he’s been given the penalty because he gained time.”
The tumultuous race saw officials grappling with multiple incidents, including early off-track excursions by Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. However, Hamilton’s miscalculation at Turn 4 proved particularly costly. After banging wheels with Verstappen, Hamilton found himself unable to slow down in the treacherous conditions, resulting in his ill-fated excursion into the grass.
Upon learning of his penalty, Hamilton’s frustration was palpable: “That’s such man. The grip is so small there. The grip there is so low.” His post-race comments revealed a misunderstanding of the gravity of the situation. “It felt like racing… I’m the only one to get a 10-second penalty,” he lamented. “I went to go down the exit road, but it’s like the dustiest place on Earth, and then I couldn’t slow the car down, so I ended up cutting the grass.”
The stewards were clear in their assessment, noting that Hamilton had gained a lasting advantage by leaving the track and failing to yield his position to Verstappen. Their findings were explicit: “Car 44 (HAM) locked brakes, left the track at Turn 4 and used the grass area while rejoining in the direction of Turn 5.” The standard penalty for such an infraction was duly applied.
Chandhok raised eyebrows over Ferrari’s strategy, questioning why the team hadn’t advised Hamilton to ease off the throttle to avoid the risk of penalty. The fallout from the incident was significant, as Hamilton plummeted from a competitive third place to a disappointing eighth by the end of the race. His 10-second penalty, served during a pit stop on Lap 23, only compounded the frustration for the seven-time world champion.
As Ferrari grapples with the repercussions of this race-day blunder, fans and analysts alike are left wondering how a lack of clear communication could mar Hamilton’s performance at such a crucial moment. The scrutiny intensifies as the F1 world looks on, eager to see how Ferrari will respond to the backlash and whether Hamilton can bounce back in the next race.












