F1 responds to Ferrari over broadcast omission controversy

Formula One has had to address a complaint from Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur. He criticized F1 for not broadcasting an important radio exchange involving Lewis Hamilton during the Chinese Grand Prix. Vasseur called the decision a "joke," saying it misrepresented the situation during the race. During the race, Hamilton was running in fourth place and debated with his engineer about allowing his teammate, Charles Leclerc, to pass him. Leclerc was fast but had damage to his front wing. Hamilton suggested he would let Leclerc by but wanted him to close the gap first. The broadcast only showed Hamilton's response after the decision to swap was made, which upset Ferrari. Vasseur expressed his frustration, stating that the first call for the swap came from Hamilton. Following the complaint, F1 officials met with him to explain that the omission was not intentional. A spokesperson confirmed there was no deliberate effort to mislead viewers about the Ferrari team radio. After the race, both Hamilton and Leclerc, who finished sixth and fifth, were disqualified due to rule violations. Hamilton's car was found to have an illegal skid block, while Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were found to be underweight. This disqualification meant they lost valuable championship points. The McLaren team had a strong performance, with Oscar Piastri winning the race, marking their 50th 1-2 finish in F1 history. The next race is scheduled for April 6 in Japan, and there may be changes to team lineups, including Liam Lawson possibly losing his seat at Red Bull.