Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur took aim at Formula One’s “joke” broadcast of the Chinese Grand Prix as he accused the sport of deliberately creating a show when Lewis Hamilton offered to move aside for Charles Leclerc.
Vasseur was speaking before both Hamilton and Leclerc were disqualified from fifth and sixth places for illegalities on their cars. Hamilton’s floor ran too close to the ground, while Leclerc’s machine was underweight.
In the race, Hamilton volunteered to allow team-mate Leclerc through for fifth as he struggled for speed. However, Hamilton’s radio message was not shown on the international feed.
Instead, the broadcast picked up on Hamilton’s race engineer Riccardo Adami telling the seven-time world champion that “we are swapping cars at Turn 14”.
Hamilton told Adami he was closing up on George Russell ahead of him and would allow Leclerc through when “he was closer”. Hamilton was then instructed to “swap this lap”.
The 40-year-old hit back by replying: “I’ll tell you when we can swap.” Hamilton moved over for Leclerc moments later.
The exchanges between Hamilton and Adami arrived a week after the British driver told his new race engineer to “leave him to it” at the opening round in Australia.
And, speaking after the race in Shanghai, team principal Vasseur said: “This is a joke from FOM (Formula One Management), because the first call came from Lewis to swap. Lewis suggested it.
“But to make the show, to create the mess around the situation, they did not broadcast the first part of the exchange. So I will discuss it with them.
“We have to work for the team and consider the best thing for Ferrari. The collaboration between the two guys (Hamilton and Leclerc) is mega and I cannot complain about it.”
On Monday, a spokesperson for F1 confirmed that the matter has since been discussed with Ferrari, with a statement adding: “There was absolutely no intention of presenting a misleading narrative regarding the Ferrari team radio.
“Due to other situations developing during the race, the message from Lewis was not played but this was not intentional.”
Addressing the swap with Leclerc, Hamilton said: “We didn’t really have a battle. He just had more pace than me. I was struggling with the car so I told the team to let him by. It was my idea.”
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