Lewis Hamilton reveals first words to team boss Fred Vasseur after tense Miami GP

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he told Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur to “calm down” after the Miami Grand Prix.

Ferrari endured a difficult race in Miami as Charles Leclerc and Hamilton took the chequered flag in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Hamilton was notably involved in a team radio spat as Ferrari swapped its drivers around in a bid to maximise its result.

The seven-time champion played down the significance of the team radio debate, stating his comments were due to the intensity of the moment.

“Fred came to my room,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 after the race. “I just put my hand on his shoulder and was like, ‘dude, calm down. Don’t be so sensitive’.

“I could have said way worse things on the radio. You hear some of the things others have said in the past.

“Some of it was sarcasm. You’ve got to understand we’re under a huge amount of pressure within the car.

“You’re never going to get the most peaceful messages coming through in the heat of the battle. It was fine.” 

Hamilton expressed his frustrations were aimed at the time it took to make the decisions, rather than the nature of the calls themselves.

“It wasn't even anger,” he said. “It wasn't effing and blinding. 

“It was just 'make a decision' You're sitting there on the chair, you've got the stuff in front you, make the decision quick.

“That's how I was. We're in the panic. We're trying to keep the car on the track.”