Former F1 driver Christian Danner believes Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton should tone down their increasingly public radio disputes with their race engineers, as they risk damaging not only team unity but their reputations as well.
The Scuderia’s 2025 campaign has so far been a story of unfulfilled promise and mounting frustration, with Leclerc and Hamilton increasingly airing their grievances over team radio.
Danner, a frequent pundit with RTL Germany on race weekends who made 36 Grand Prix starts during his racing career in F1, criticized Ferrari’s duo for what he described as unnecessary “quarrels” and “smug remarks” broadcast during races – exchanges that he believes have become counterproductive and embarrassing.
A Season Falling Short of Expectations
Ferrari entered the season as championship hopefuls, buoyed by Hamilton’s arrival and the momentum from a strong 2024 campaign.
However, with McLaren dominating the Constructors’ Championship – leading by a commanding 175 points – Ferrari is struggling to remain in contention for the runner-up spot, outpaced in Canada last time out by both Mercedes and Red Bull.
In the Drivers’ Championship, the picture is even bleaker: Leclerc, Ferrari’s best-placed driver, currently sits fifth in the standings, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 94 points, while Hamilton lags an additional 25 points behind in sixth place.
Charles Leclerc on the grid with Ferrari race engineer Bryan Bozzi.
That lack of performance has led to a visible build-up of frustration, often spilling into live team radio during races.
The most recent example came at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Leclerc and race engineer Bryan Bozzi were at odds over strategy options – an argument that played out live on TV over the global broadcast.
“Well, if I were team boss, I would say, ‘watch out, guys, the quarrels and these smug remarks, I don’t want to hear them anymore’. That’s it,” Danner told Motorsport-Magazin.
“You simply make a fool of yourself if you keep talking past each other. The Leclerc number with the engineer was amazing.”
Danner’s Advice: Keep the Radio on Mute
Danner believes these on-air disputes are doing more harm than good and believes team boss Fred Vasseur should lay down the law internally.
“If I know that I’m going to land on the TV screen, then I have to think very carefully about whether I might not just press the radio button. And that would be my advice to everyone involved,” Danner said.
He acknowledged the natural tension that can arise in high-pressure situations but stressed that such emotions must be managed better in public settings.
“The fact that discrepancies or dissonances sometimes arise is nothing but normal,” he added. “But then you don’t press the radio button but say: ‘We’ll talk about it later’.”
Drivers Must Trust the Team
While Danner sympathizes with a driver’s instinct to take charge in the moment, he insists that strategic decisions are best left to those who have a full view of the race from the pit wall.
Read also: Russell suggests Hamilton may be hurting his own cause at Ferrari“I don’t like to say that, because of course I have the driver’s soul in me,” Danner admitted.
“But you can judge certain things from the cockpit, but of course you have to leave the decision-making authority to those who see everything.
“Yes, I can incorporate the information, but the strategy department decides that.”
With Ferrari’s title hopes fading and team dynamics under increasing scrutiny, Danner’s comments serve as a reminder that composure – and trust in the team – may be just as important as raw speed in turning the Scuderia’s season around.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Leclerc and Hamilton warned radio ‘quarrels’ are embarrassing F1i.com.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Leclerc and Hamilton warned radio ‘quarrels’ are embarrassing )
Also on site :
- FIFA Club World Cup Match: Real Madrid vs Pachuca Predictions, lineups and live stream
- LSU's Kade Anderson pitches shutout in Game 1 of the 2025 College World Series, boosting his case for No. 1 pick
- Real Madrid vs. Pachuca: Club World Cup match preview