Lewis Hamilton's furious Ferrari radio comments at Miami Grand Prix speaks volumes

Lewis Hamilton cut a hugely frustrated figure over team radio during Sunday's but claimed we "won't apologise for being a fighter". He and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc found themselves fighting over seventh due to their lack of pace.

The team instructed both men to let each other past at stages, but they remained in close proximity as they lacked the speed to chase those in front of them down. Much of their race was spent challenging or holding off the Williams with Hamilton letting his frustration boil over.

He was told to let Leclerc back through before being informed that Carlos Sainz was less than two seconds him behind. The seven-time champion sarcastically responded: "You want me to let him past as well?"

That was one of several radio messages that underlined Hamilton's frustration. At one point, when he was tucked in behind Leclerc he said: "You want me to just sit here the whole race?" Hamilton also said at another point: "This is not good teamwork. That's all I'm going to say".

Hamilton eventually finished in eighth as his difficult start to life with Ferrari continues. With the exception of a sprint victory in China the seven-time world champion has underwhelmed at his new team, but insists he's still as determined as ever.

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He said: "I've still got my fire in my belly. I could feel a bit of it really coming up there. I'm not going to apologise for being a fighter. I'm not going to apologise for still wanting it. I know everyone in the team does, too. I didn't think the decision came quick enough. And for sure, in that time you're like, 'Come on!' But that's really kind of it.

"I have no problems with the team or with Charles. I think we could do better. But the car is not where we really need to be. Ultimately we're fighting for seventh and eighth."

Team principal Frederic Vasseur attempted to cool the situation, insisting he was taking the best decisions for the team, but Hamilton told the Ferrari chief not to take his comments to heart - insisting he could've said much worse over team radio.

He said: "Fred came to my room. I just put my hand on his shoulder and was like, 'Dude, calm down. Don't be so sensitive.' I could have said way worse things on the radio. You hear some of the things others have said in the past.

"Some of it was sarcasm. Look, you've got to understand we're under a huge amount of pressure within the car. You're never going to get the most peaceful messages coming through in the heat of the battle. It was fine."