Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has condemned the “joking” Formula 1 broadcast of the Chinese Grand Prix, accusing the organisation of deliberately creating a show when Lewis Hamilton offered to make way for Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton agreed to let teammate Leclerc through to fifth position as he was having pace issues, but Hamilton's radio message was not broadcast on the international channel.
Instead, the broadcast showed Hamilton's race engineer Riccardo Adami telling the seven-time world champion: “We'll swap cars at Turn 14.”
Hamilton informed Adami that he was closing in on George Russell, who was ahead, and would let Leclerc through when “he was closer.”
Hamilton was then instructed to “swap this lap”. The 40-year-old driver replied: “I'll tell you when we can swap”. Hamilton made the switch to Leclerc moments later.
The discussion between Hamilton and Adami came a week after the British driver told his new race engineer to “leave him alone” at the opening round in Australia.
And team boss Vasseur, commenting on the events after the race in Shanghai, said: “This is a joke from FOM (Formula 1), because the first call with the offer of a swap came from Lewis. Lewis himself initiated it.
“But in order to create a show and create confusion around this situation, they did not show the first part of the exchange. So I am going to discuss this with them.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
