F1 legend Lewis Hamilton admits failure to follow Ferrari team orders

Lewis Hamilton at Monza — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton admits failure to follow Ferrari team orders

Lewis Hamilton was ordered to allow Charles Leclerc past in Baku

Dan Ripley Global Editor

Professional F1 journalist and analyst

Monday 22 September 2025 03:00

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he failed to order Ferrari team orders at Sunday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The Brit finished less than half a second ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc at the end of the race, albeit down in eighth and ninth place respectively.

The seven-time world champion had overtaken Leclerc earlier in the race after he was on a different strategy and at that point he had a much faster car.

But at the very end of the race Ferrari decided to allow Leclerc back through.

However, while Hamilton slowed down and even braked before the line to allow his team-mate passed, he didn't do it quick enough meaning he still finished in front.

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Hamilton said: "Firstly...obviously I was quicker [in that moment of the race] but Charles was gracious to let me by.

"At the end I got the message really late on, and I was like zoned in on the car in front of me, even though there was like 0.0001% chance of passing, I was still hopeful maybe.

"And basically I did lift on the straight, and did actually brake, but he missed it by like four tenths.

"That was just a misjudgement by myself. I'll apologise to Charles. At the end of the day that's [only] eighth and ninth."

Lewis Hamilton Formula 1