Lewis Hamilton has insisted that the reaction to his radio exchanges with Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami has been 'over-egged' as he prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The 40-year-old made his debut for his new side at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, where he finished 10th.
With Ferrari struggling on the day, Hamilton had some tense radio communications with Ferrari chief Adami.
That has sparked talk that there's already some teething problems between the pair.
Lewis Hamilton has insisted that the reaction to his radio exchanges with Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami has been 'over-egged' as he prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix
REUTERS
But Hamilton, speaking on Thursday, has now insisted that the controversy has been 'over-egged' - while also claiming he was 'very polite' in how he conducted himself.
He said: "I mean, naturally, everyone over-egged. 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'.
"I wasn't saying 'F you'. I wasn't swearing. So it was just at that point, I was really struggling with the car and I needed full focus on these couple of things.
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"We're getting to know each other. He's obviously had two champions or more in the past and there's no issues between us still."
Hamilton also insisted he's similar to Max Verstappen in how he speaks to his engineer.
"Go and listen to the radio calls with others and their engineers, far worse," the Briton continued.
"But unfortunately, you [the media] make… the conversation that Max has with an engineer over the years, the abuse that the poor guy's taken and you never write about it, but you wrote about the smallest little discussion I had with mine.
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"There was a couple of individuals that were quite rude on how we [Ricky and I] spoke." 💥
— sim (@simsgazette) March 20, 2025
Sir Lewis Hamilton on the media's narratives about his team radio communication with Riccardo Adami:
"I don't know why everyone's been so negative about it, because if you go and... No,… pic.twitter.com/5aXOq61xwp
"I don't know why everyone's been so negative about it. I was polite. I always said 'please' at the end.
"When you look at some of the other drivers who have been super vocal, almost abusive, their engineers have taken batterings for years, and mine didn't even take a battering.
"There are a couple of individuals that were quite rude on how we spoke. It's something you learn along the way.
"From race to race, we're going to get stronger together, and that's the most important part."
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Hamilton's debut for Ferrari was one to forget.
He insists the future is bright, however, and that they're merely going through an adjustment period.
"Ultimately, we're literally just getting to know each other," stated the 40-year-old.
"So afterwards I'm like: 'hey bro, I don't need that bit of information but if you want to give me this, this is the place I'd like to do it'.
Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to bounce back at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend
REUTERS
"This is how I'm feeling in the car and, at these points, this is when I do and don't need the information'.
"That's what it's about. There are no issues, it's done with a smiley face and we move forwards."
