Christian Horner warning speaks volumes after Lewis Hamilton incidents at Miami Grand Prix

It was a difficult outing for and at the . For the sixth race weekend in a row, neither he nor his team-mate managed to secure, or seriously challenge for, a podium finish, with the duo collecting just 10 points combined.

The race also featured some , triggered first when Hamilton requested to move ahead of Leclerc – and again later when the team instructed the Brit to return the favour.

Hamilton's blockbuster move to Ferrari, confirmed last year, grabbed headlines for months. While many were thrilled at the prospect of seeing the seven-time champion don the iconic red, boss expressed concerns.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Horner had warned the driver pairing might disrupt harmony at Ferrari, and Sunday's drama in Miami seemed to validate his concerns. He told talkSPORT: "A team like Ferrari next year, for example, are going to have two drivers that are going to be taking points off each other – and which horse do you back?

"You have to back both of them, but that sometimes becomes divisive within a team," he added. "Different teams have different approaches."

Horner's message was straightforward: having two elite drivers both chasing glory could lead to internal strife, potentially hurting Ferrari's chances in both the constructors' and the drivers' championships. At the time, the team dismissed those worries, betting on Hamilton's experience and Leclerc's raw pace forming a potent combination.

However, the scenes in Miami implied that Horner's warning had merit. and once again delivered a one-two finish, while of took the final spot on the podium. Ferrari, meanwhile, were forced to manage a growing internal conflict rather than concentrate on mounting a podium challenge.

Throughout the race, Hamilton – still adapting to life in red and whose top result this season remains a fifth-place in Bahrain – trailed Leclerc, who was running on worn hard tyres, despite having a performance edge on newer mediums.

Hamilton grew increasingly irritated at the team's slow response to issue a position swap, voicing his frustration over team radio. "You want me to sit here for the whole race? This is not good teamwork, that's all I'm gonna say," he vented, before sarcastically adding: "Take a tea break while you're at it," when the response was delayed.

Matters worsened when Hamilton was finally permitted to pass Leclerc, only for the team to later order him to hand the position back after failing to catch Mercedes' . Hamilton's disappointment was clear, telling reporters: "I've still got fire in my belly," indicating he wasn't ready to play a supporting role. "I could feel a bit of it really coming up there."

The veteran added: "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."

He later clarified: "It wasn't even anger. It wasn't like, effing and blinding and anything like that. It's like, 'make a decision!' You're sitting there on the chair, you've got the stuff in front of you, make the decision, quick. That's how I was. We're in a panic, we're trying to keep the car on the track. We're computing things fast.

"I don't know what you're going to write, or whether I was disrespectful or whatever. I honestly don't feel I was. I was like, 'come on guys, I want to win'."

The incident underscored a lack of clarity in Ferrari's race strategy, prompting team boss to visit Hamilton, 40, post-race to ease the tension. It was a very public demonstration of the sort of intra-team disruption Horner had forecasted, as Ferrari's attempt to balance two competing egos led to strategic missteps – Leclerc crossed the line seventh, with Hamilton just behind in eighth.

Leclerc, for his part, was unfazed by the situation. After the race, he downplayed the disagreement and highlighted the respect he and Hamilton share.

"We're both here to win, and we understand the team comes first," the 27-year-old said, framing the exchange as a heat-of-the-moment disagreement rather than a serious falling-out. "We will discuss internally in order to make better decisions. There is no bad feelings for Lewis – absolutely not," he stressed.