At the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton endured another difficult weekend in what has been a challenging season for the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion. Despite showing promise during qualifying by outperforming his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc — something he had only managed once before this season — Hamilton found himself on the back foot during the race itself. Ultimately, he could only manage a sixth-place finish at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, continuing a frustrating run of underwhelming results since joining the Italian team for the 2025 season.
Newly surfaced, previously untelevised team radio messages from Ferrari have now shed light on how intra-team dynamics played a role in Hamilton’s underperformance in Spain. These messages indicate that Charles Leclerc played a key role in influencing team strategy, effectively pressuring Ferrari’s pit wall into making a critical call that disadvantaged Hamilton early in the race.
Shortly after the start, as Hamilton appeared to struggle with pace and race balance, Leclerc began closing the gap. Observing the situation, Leclerc reportedly told the team that continuing behind his slower teammate would hurt both their races and compromise Ferrari’s strategy against rival teams. In response, the team asked Hamilton to move aside and let Leclerc through. The instruction came across clearly as a team order, effectively asking Hamilton to sacrifice track position despite starting ahead.
Hamilton’s radio response — notably terse and resigned with the phrase “You choose” — revealed his frustration with the decision, but also his willingness to comply under the circumstances. His reply reflected the difficult position he found himself in: unable to match the pace of those around him and now being asked to concede further ground to his own teammate. This episode marked a significant moment in Hamilton’s adaptation to life at Ferrari, showing that he is still finding his footing both in terms of performance and within the team’s internal hierarchy.
Leclerc, on the other hand, went on to make better use of the race conditions after the swap. Post-race, he made comments that hinted at the sacrifice he had to make earlier in the race weekend and emphasized that the team had to prioritize strategy over pride. His input and assertiveness over team radio demonstrated his growing influence at Ferrari and his determination to take the fight to competitors like Red Bull and McLaren.
In summary, the Spanish Grand Prix offered a revealing glimpse into the dynamics at Ferrari, where Hamilton is still adjusting to new surroundings and Leclerc is asserting himself as the team’s strategic leader. The incident underscores Hamilton’s ongoing struggles and Leclerc’s increasing command over team decisions — a shift that may define Ferrari’s campaign this season.