F1 fans have had enough after Lewis Hamilton’s radio exchange with Ferrari engineer during Monaco GP

Formula 1 fans have been left shocked and frustrated following a tense and awkward radio exchange between Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari race engineer, Riccardo Adami, during the Monaco Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, who started the race in seventh place after a grid penalty, ultimately crossed the line in fifth—well behind the race leaders in what turned out to be a frustratingly isolated drive around the streets of Monte Carlo.

Hamilton’s weekend was already compromised when he received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen during qualifying. Originally set to start fourth, the penalty pushed him down to seventh and severely limited his chances of securing a podium finish on a notoriously difficult track for overtaking. Despite his efforts on race day, Hamilton finished nearly a full minute behind the top three—Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri.

During the final stages of the race, Hamilton appeared to seek clarity from Adami about the time gap between himself and the leaders. He asked if he was still a minute behind. Rather than directly answering, Adami chose to inform Hamilton of the current lap times being set by Norris, Leclerc, and Piastri.

Hamilton, clearly irritated by the lack of a straight answer, responded bluntly: “You’re not answering the question, but it doesn’t really matter. I’m just asking, am I a minute behind or…?”

To which Adami finally replied: “48 seconds.”

But the tension didn’t end there. After the chequered flag waved and Hamilton completed his race, the Brit posed a question that many fans found heartbreaking: “Are you guys upset with me or something?” His words were met with a noticeable pause, sparking speculation about the mood within the Ferrari garage and whether Hamilton is already facing communication issues in his first season with the Scuderia.

The exchange struck a nerve with fans. Many took to social media to express their dismay at the lack of clear communication and perceived lack of support from the Ferrari pit wall.

“What did he do wrong? Maximised what he could after THEY cost him P4 yesterday,” one fan wrote.

Another commented: “Time to give Bono [Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s longtime Mercedes engineer] a really good offer.”

Others joined in, questioning Ferrari’s internal communication after eight rounds of the championship. “I’m sorry. It’s been eight races and they can’t have proper communication?” one fan asked, highlighting growing concerns about whether Hamilton and Adami can develop the chemistry needed for success.

Despite the criticism, Adami was not an unknown figure to Hamilton prior to his move to Ferrari. In fact, he was reportedly recommended to the British driver by four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, who had worked closely with Adami during his own stint at Ferrari. Adami also enjoyed a productive partnership with Carlos Sainz, suggesting he has the pedigree to support top-level talent.

Just a week before the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton had spoken positively about the team following the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, where he secured a respectable fourth-place finish. At the time, he praised the improved communication and strategy execution, saying: “The team did a fantastic job with the strategy, they were faultless. We’re slowly getting there. Riccardo did a fantastic job with his communication with me. I was calm, so he was calm and the team were calm in executing the strategy, and the pit stops were awesome. So overall, mega.”

However, the disconnect in Monaco has clearly reignited concerns. With a long season ahead, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether the Hamilton-Adami partnership can settle into a rhythm, or if Ferrari may need to rethink their engineering structure to truly unlock the full potential of their new superstar driver.