Hamilton Flips Off Colapinto After Lap-One Collision Ends His Race

Lewis Hamilton made his displeasure with Franco Colapinto clear after the two drivers collided during the Miami Grand Prix.

The clash occurred at turn 11 on the first lap, leaving Hamilton’s car with substantial damage. He was able to pass Colapinto again shortly afterwards approaching turn 17, and made his frustration with a visible gesture as he went by.

Hamilton was immediately worried about how the damage would affect his race. Over team radio he repeatedly told race engineer Carlos Santi it was “going to be a long race” because the car had lost downforce.

As the Grand Prix progressed Hamilton had to significantly lift and coast at times, which Ferrari later attributed to the damage. Despite the setback he brought the car home and was elevated to sixth place after a penalty for his team mate.

“That was a frustrating race, guys,” Hamilton said after taking the chequered flag. “Just the performance of the car after the damage was nowhere. Sorry about that.”

He described the race as being “a long race in no-man’s land.” Hamilton said his upgraded car had felt competitive in the opening laps before the contact.

“I think if the car was in one piece… I felt that car was pretty good on the laps of the grid, so I felt like we would have been more competitive and so I really felt optimistic for today,” he said.

“But I got held up at the beginning when Max [Verstappen] spun and I was in the wrong position for that, and then obviously the damage that I got after that then I had nothing.”

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Hamilton’s radio messages about his car damage

Lap: 1/57 HAM: 1’40.683
Santi	I got damage.
Santi	And feedback about front wing.
Lap: 2/57 HAM: 1’33.789
Santi	Stay out.
Hamilton	[Unclear] my car.
Hamilton	Definitely lost something from the car, I’m pretty sure, left side.
Santi	We see damage on the sidepod and floor. Nothing we can do.
Lap: 3/57 HAM: 1’33.971
Hamilton	Going to be a long race like this.
Hamilton	Lacking a lot of downforce
Santi	We are seeing 10 to 15 points down.
Lap: 4/57 HAM: 1’34.184
Santi	Race is still long, conditions can change.
Lap: 5/57 HAM: 2’15.026
Hamilton	Don’t have the downforce to keep up with these guys.
Santi	What you’re doing is good.
Hamilton	Something just fell down in my cockpit. [Unclear] seat.
Lap: 6/57 HAM: 2’14.270
Hamilton	It’s going to be a long race with this damage.
Santi	We can do it. I’m sure.
Hamilton	Feels just pretty poor.
Santi	Same pace of Piastri.
Lap: 7/57 HAM: 2’14.270
Hamilton	Sorry about the damage. Colapinto running me wide or whoever that was.
Santi	Yeah, we see Lewis, it is 10 to 15 points. It’s more in high speed than in low speed. And there is a marshal in turn 15 on track. And stay in line behind the Safety Car please.
Lap: 9/57 HAM: 2’27.200
Hamilton	It’s going to be hard to beat these faster cars, pure speed.
Lap: 10/57 HAM: 2’17.890
Santi	You’re good on tyres. Keep them there.

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