‘It’s not a tension’ – Vasseur downplays rift rumours between Hamilton and race engineer Adami as he praises Leclerc’s Monaco podium

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has dismissed suggestions of a rift between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami following the Monaco Grand Prix. Ferrari's performance in Monaco exceeded expectations, with Charles Leclerc securing a strong second place, just three seconds behind winner Lando Norris. Despite a challenging start to the season, particularly in low-speed corners and qualifying, Ferrari found their pace in Monte Carlo. Vasseur noted that while they were initially frustrated with Leclerc's P2 in qualifying, the team performed admirably on race day. Hamilton's impressive drive saw him climb from seventh to fifth, showcasing effective overcutting during the first pit stops. However, Vasseur explained Hamilton lost significant time—nearly 10 seconds—due to encountering a group of slower lapped cars, which hampered his charge towards Max Verstappen. Regarding the perceived radio silence from Adami to Hamilton, Vasseur clarified that it's standard procedure to delay replies until a safe section of the track to avoid distracting the driver in corners. He emphasized that any perceived tension is simply a reflection of the intense pressure drivers face at 300 km/h between walls. Vasseur frankly admitted Ferrari's first third of the season has been "underperformed compared to expectations," but Monaco's strong showing offers a glimmer of hope for improvement.