Lewis Hamilton’s first race as a Ferrari driver came to a frustrating end as a strategy gamble in the rain-hit race failed to pay off and he sank to 10th place at the finish.
It was also clear he and Ferrari were still refining their communication as he made his debut for them. And as Hamilton admitted, he is still getting to grips with the unfamiliar Ferrari controls after 18 seasons in Mercedes-powered cars.
The clips of his radio messages played on the world television feed gave the impression of a thoroughly miserable afternoon. Was it really as bad as that? Here are his complete radio communications with race engineer Ricardo Adami on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Australian Grand Prix radio messages
The first race of the new season got off to a disrupted start as Isack Hadjar lost control on the wet track surface and crashed during the original formation lap. Race control therefore abandoned their first attempt to start the race.
As Hamilton and Adami debated how best to optimise the start it was clear the seven-times world champion was still getting up to speed on some aspects of his car’s systems.
Attempted start
Adami
For the start, we need torque map two, and you are already in torque map two, so we already selected. Stay in torque map two for the start.
Hamilton
I’m going to torque map six.
Adami
And negative, not available for the start. Go torque map two, please.
Hamilton
Okay.
Adami
Three minutes, and it will be very important to keep temps in those tyres.
Hamilton
B-bal turn one.
Adami
You’ll need a longer hold on the clutch, you did one second, those tests, we need one-and-a-half.
Hamilton
Yeah, I was just wheel spinning there, so.
Adami
Diff mid five for the start, diff mid five. And two minutes.
Adami
Can go pit limiter on.
Hamilton
What’s my position? The yellow line.
Adami
You are like a metre behind, one metre behind. K2 off for the start, K2 off. It’s 10 seconds.
Adami
Four burn-outs, sorry, correction, aborted start. Take your great position and switch off.
Hamilton
No burn-outs.
Adami
No burn-outs. Abort the start, we can switch off in your grid position.
“Is the other car struggling?”
During the hiatus, Hamilton used the opportunity to get more information on how team mate Charles Leclerc was coping with the conditions.
It was Hadjar crashed at turn two. For info, you can go P0.
Hamilton
I have no rear end, by the way. Rear tyres’ not working.
Adami
Understood.
Adami
Propping up the rear.
Hamilton
It’s definitely, the rear’s not coming in for some reason. It’s very slippery, having a lot of just breaking traction, just big snaps constantly.
Adami
We lost the sync for the gears, so we are learning on the formation lap.
Hamilton
Is the other car struggling with rear temps?
Adami
Okay, can help you there, adjusting the rears.
Hamilton
And start? It felt okay
Adami
Yeah, the start was okay. Good start. Hadjar spun taking the white line inside turn two.
Hamilton
Sorry?
Adami
Hadjar spun taking the white line inside turn two. B-bal 54, suggestion, b-bal 54.
Adami
And diff three mid six.
Hamilton
Just ask Ricky how much slower I was through turn five there. I keep having a snap on the exit.
Adami
Okay, having a look.
Hamilton
Did you hear from the other car, if they’re struggling as well or not?
Adami
He was pushing a bit more up to turn five, having a bit better temperature, higher temp.
Adami
Five minutes.
Hamilton
What target did I hit?
Adami
Just two percent shallow.
Adami
Before turn five, Charles was avoiding the snap going later on throttle.
Hamilton
Okay. Apex speed at six?
Adami
You were faster by 2kph.
Hamilton
The other corners like turn nine and 10?
Adami
We were pushing a bit the entry in turn nine. And lap time was good across cars. And three minutes.
Hamilton
Should I be looking to go to b-mig five?
Adami
Yeah, it makes sense to us.
Hamilton
But not for turn one?
Adami
Yeah, copy.
Hamilton
For the start into turn one, brake balance back into b-mig three or not?
Adami
We would rather not. Two minutes.
Adami
Okay reminder you to stay longer on clutch, and fire up.
Hamilton
Bite point find again or not?
Adami
Negative, no bite point please. And one minute, and K2 off, K2 off. Ten seconds.
Adami
You were good on the target. Remind you to learn the eighth gear, learn eighth.
Adami
Okay, all set.
Adami
And for burn-outs, repeat, at the DRS line four burn-outs.
Adami
Go mode X and K2 on, mode X, K2 on. And the last car is approaching the grid.
“Have I still got my front wing?”
Hamilton took a look at Leclerc at turn one, but backed out of a move
After the race started it was neutralised almost immediately as Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz Jnr had separate crashes. Hamilton was also concerned he might have picked up damage, though his team informed him his car was intact.
Lap: 1/57 HAM: 2’12.883
Adami
Safety Car, Safety Car.
Hamilton
Have I still got my front wing?
Adami
On the data, all fine, all fine from data. Stay out and charge button on.
Hamilton
Dry line starting to appear, through exit of 11.
Adami
Okay, good info, thank you. Try to keep temperature in the tyres, of course.
Lap: 2/57 HAM: 2’49.908
Adami
Multi green exit position four, multi green exit four. And go charge off and mode FW. The car stopped on the track there. Check for debris.
Hamilton
It’s super slippery.
Adami
Adami’s former driver is out of the race Also Sainz spun and crashed at turn 14, so you can use the pit lane.
Hamilton
Repeat
Adami
You must use the pit lane. Sainz crash in last corner in the barriers. Remind you, pit limiter all through the pit lane, pit limiter.
Adami
Adami appears to be checking what data Hamilton is accessing on his steering wheel Ignore the fuel bar, you’re taking a look on the fuel bar, ignore it.
Adami
Remind you pit limiter.
Hamilton
It’s pretty hectic.
Adami
Copy, understood.
Hamilton
Exit five, he lost it.
Lap: 3/57 HAM: 2’43.813
Adami
Copy, we saw that.
Adami
Have to warm up the tyres, weaving in the straights. And also visibility check, front wing is okay, from when you come, when you went past.
Adami
And avoid the black paint line inside 14, that’s why Sainz spun. Avoid the black paint. We can go charge on and pre-select mode X, charge on and mode X.
Hamilton
Leclerc also queried why it was taking so long to recover Doohan’s crash car There’s still a car, before turn six, there’s still a car broke on the road.
Adami
Understood, copy. Again, through the pit lane, follow the others.
Hamilton
Generally feeling on the nose
Adami
Diff mid seven to help you. Diff mid seven.
Lap: 4/57 HAM: 2’34.100
Adami
Recovery vehicle turn six, be careful.
Hamilton
Track is drying. Still greasy everywhere, but…
Adami
Forming a line, yeah, copy. And no rain expected for the next 20 minutes. Just pre-select mode X for the restart, eventually. Mode X now, and stay mode charge, charge button on.
Hamilton
Yeah, no problem. Just don’t repeat everything, please.
Adami
Understood. Think about S1 to warm up the fronts, if it’s helping.
Hamilton
The tyres’ still cold?
Adami
He enters the pits again Remind you, pit limiter. The front looks cold. Keep working on your fronts.
Lap: 5/57 HAM: 2’21.772
Adami
Could be one more lap.
Hamilton
It will be more one lap?
Adami
Yep, one more lap, we believe. Just follow the others on the pit straight, follow the others. And no more rain for at least 30 minutes, for info.
Lap: 6/57 HAM: 2’20.418
Adami
Diff entry eight for the restart. Diff entry eight. So one more lap, we believe, one more lap. Good job on tyres, you’re doing a good job.
Hamilton
Track is drying, but still very greasy.
Understood.
Lap: 7/57 HAM: 2’07.498
Adami
Safety Car in this lap.
Adami
K2 on for the restart, keep working on your tyres. Then we’ll be K2 off, turn three.
Hamilton
Drive-ability is pretty difficult.
Adami
Understood.
“How far am I off?”
After a long delay while the damaged cars were cleared away, the race restarted and Hamilton was finally able to get up to speed. However he spent the opening stint of the race stuck behind Alexander Albon’s Williams.
The race restarts And multi white RB position four when you can.
Lap: 10/57 HAM: 1’35.107
Adami
And think about diff mid six. And multi white RB one when you can.
Lap: 12/57 HAM: 1’33.255
Adami
DRS enabled.
Hamilton
Let me know where I’m slow. I’m struggling with drive-ability. Car’s snappy.
Adami
11,12.
Lap: 13/57 HAM: 1’33.017
Adami
Can use K1 to close.
Hamilton
Leave me to it, please.
Adami
Possibly misunderstood his reply as a request to repeat K1 available.
Hamilton
Yes, I know. Leave me to it, please.
Adami
B-bal 56 will help, 56.
Lap: 14/57 HAM: 1’32.992
Hamilton
How far am I off?
Adami
0.8 but Charles is in free air.
Lap: 15/57 HAM: 1’32.763
Adami
Charles lap time 32 .4
Lap: 16/57 HAM: 1’32.749
Hamilton
Hard to get close.
Adami
Can see that.
“Suggest upshift and then DRS”
Adami gave Hamilton occasional pieces of information on how to resolve problems with his car. However given the tricky conditions Hamilton wasn’t always prepared to act on them.
Lap: 17/57 HAM: 1’32.830
Adami
Spots of rain in the pit lane, also down to turn three, have a look, be careful.
Hamilton
Yeah [unclear] pace.
Adami
Also turn 11, reported a bit more rain, watch out. Pace is good. Class one rain in the pit lane, still same intensity as before.
Lap: 19/57 HAM: 1’32.914
Adami
This level of light rain for 10 minutes.
Lap: 20/57 HAM: 1’32.341
Hamilton
Where am I down? It’s hard to…
Adami
Turn one, place to focus, while you’re in traffic, of course.
Adami
Hamilton appears to be failing to activate DRS at times For the DRS activation is upshift and then DRS, if you have some denied. Charles is 31 .7, so pace is good.
Lap: 22/57 HAM: 1’32.041
Adami
And we suggest…
Hamilton
Interrupts Lost gear sync, lost gear sync.
Adami
Understood. We suggest b-mig [brake migration] three. Suggestion also EB2, engine braking two.
Lap: 23/57 HAM: 1’31.771
Adami
Last you did was a very good turn one.
Hamilton
Yeah, understeer is most of the issue.
Adami
Copy.
Lap: 24/57 HAM: 1’31.852
Adami
We suggest EB3, engine braking three. To avoid the denied DRS, we suggest upshift and then DRS.
Lap: 25/57 HAM: 1’30.860
Hamilton
Please leave it, just leave it.
“I’m learning the car as we go, mate”
The F1 race director focused on the messages from Adami instructing Hamilton to use the engine mode ‘K1’, and Hamilton’s reluctance to do so. However these were only a small part of the total communication between the pair.
I’m learning the car as we go, mate, just leave me to it with the DRS, it’s not an issue.
Adami
The car is okay, just a lot of understeer as you can see, and hold K1. Think about engine braking to help the balance.
Lap: 28/57 HAM: 1’30.143
Adami
Try to hold the K1, just for practise, I know it’s difficult…
Lap: 30/57 HAM: 1’29.737
Hamilton
I’m not close enough.
Adami
Copy.
Hamilton
I’m not close enough. When I get close, I’ll do it.
Adami
Understood.
Adami
And when you can, let me know for track conditions.
Lap: 31/57 HAM: 1’30.422
Hamilton
The track is drying but the tyres still feel good.
Adami
Understood.
Hamilton
It’s going to be slicks soon.
Adami
Understood.
Adami
And when you can, multi blue, DG, position 14. Hamilton makes the settings change immediately
Lap: 32/57 HAM: 1’30.234
Adami
All set. Thank you.
Hamilton
[Unclear] pace now.
Adami
Understood.
Hamilton
Dry line is appearing, except for the last corner. Think it’s very close.
“This hard tyre is going to be hard to switch on”
By now the track was starting to dry out. When Fernando Alonso crashed and the Safety Car reappeared, Ferrari joined their rivals in seizing the opportunity to fit slick tyres. Hamilton wanted a softer set of tyres than the hards he was given, but appeared to raise his request too late for Ferrari to consider it.
Lap: 33/57 HAM: 1’50.479
Adami
Understood. Good info. We are monitoring.
Hamilton
[Unclear]. How’s my pace compared to the guys?
Adami
Alonso crashes Stand by. Safety Car, Safety Car and box, Safety Car and box.
Hamilton
Approaching penultimate corner Need a tyre that’s going to warm up.
Adami
K2 on. Tyre target three. All good.
Lap: 34/57 HAM: 2’26.885
Hamilton
Yeah guys, I don’t know, this hard tyre is going to be hard to switch on.
Adami
Understood. Tyre position three. Try your best.
Adami
Charge button off.
Hamilton
Did you put wing in? This Safety Car is going extra slow… [spots Alonso’s car] Oh, I see him.
Hamilton
He follows other cars past the Safety Car Why are we going past the Safety Car? We’ve all passed the Safety Car, is that okay?
Adami
Yeah, that’s okay.
Hamilton
Why?
Adami
Because the leader is behind. Keep working on your tyres, and you can pre-select mode race.
Lap: 35/57 HAM: 1’43.401
Adami
Radio still open.
Hamilton
Were we that far behind? So we’ve not gained anything on that, right?
Adami
Yeah, correct. We are in the same position, bad timing. Just watch for the debris there when you go through.
Hamilton
Hamilton is catching back up to the Safety Car I’ve got no warnings on my delta. Strange.
Adami
Investigating.
Hamilton
It’s stuck now in this position.
Adami
Suggest multi white RP eight to help you with these tyres. Charge off.
Lap: 36/57 HAM: 1’42.431
Hamilton
Both talk at once There’s only one line.
Adami
Copy, understood.
Hamilton
Repeat.
Adami
Charge off, mode FW.
Hamilton
How many laps left? Still getting no warnings.
Adami
21 to go.
Hamilton
Everyone else has stopped as well, yeah?
Adami
Yeah, correct. All on the hard, apart from Verstappen on the medium, Tsunoda and Albon on the medium, all the rest on hard. Is a long race.
Lap: 37/57 HAM: 2’08.079
Hamilton
How far behind are we?
Adami
The safety car is at turn eight. And there is a vehicle to pick up Alonso. And careful for recovery vehicle on track.
Adami
Safety Car at turn 11. And multi red FM position five.
Lap: 38/57 HAM: 2’18.415
Adami
Double yellow where you are and drink reminder if you need
Hamilton
How far were they… was everyone ahead of catch-up car?
Hamilton
They talk at once There’s nowhere to go offline.
Adami
RB3, please. Hamilton makes the change
Adami
Okay, all set, thank you.
Lap: 39/57 HAM: 2’12.085
Adami
Sector reported clear, should be ‘lapped car may now overtake’ in front. Just for info, we’re currently P8. Got Gasly behind on hard and Albon ahead on medium.
Lap: 40/57 HAM: 2’11.407
Hamilton
There’s no place offline you can overtake right now, it’s wet everywhere
Adami
Keep working on your tyres, it won’t be long.
“Two laps to heavy rain”
The race restarted again but Ferrari realised it wasn’t going to stay dry for long as another shower was coming. Although they saw the approaching rain was “heavy”, it also appeared brief, and this emboldened them to see it out without switching to slicks. It proved a costly gamble.
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Lap: 41/57 HAM: 2’06.607
Adami
Safety Car in this lap, get ready. Charge on, RB position one, multi white RB position one. You can preselect mode race for the restart.
Hamilton
Laps left?
Adami
16 in the line, one-six. K2 off at turn three. K2 once, okay copy, all set. The race restarts
Lap: 43/57 HAM: 1’24.218
Adami
DRS enabled.
Hamilton
Is there more rain coming?
Adami
In two laps, will be class four, lasting only two laps.
Adami
Hard to overtake people on medium.
Adami
Suggest engine braking two, EB2. Copy that. Spots of rain in the pit lane, for info.
Lap: 44/57 HAM: 1’29.454
Adami
Two laps to heavy rain, short and sharp, heavy rain, lasting two laps.
Hamilton
Okay, understood.
Lap: 45/57 HAM: 1’33.045
Adami
Currently P3. For now we are staying out, let us know if you need inters.
Hamilton
It’s okay, just keep me up to date with the last sector. It’s quite slippery.
Adami
Yellow flag. Approaching turn 11 Keep it on-track. Verstappen slow. Be careful 11. Hamilton runs deep at turn 12 but stays on-track
“S***, we should have come in”
Hamilton’s frustration peaked when he realised the mistake they had made by not changing back to intermediate rubber earlier.
Negative, just this. Hopefully. Let’s see. Still raining in the pit lane. Eight seconds to the current leader. The leader is Verstappen. He’s staying out, staying out. Keep it together, last sector. Verstappen struggling for grip, be careful there.
Adami
This is the wettest part, you are leading the race.
Lap: 47/57 HAM: 2’30.695
Hamilton
It’s very slippery mate. There’s more rain coming down. Hamilton is passed at the exit of turn two
Hamilton
Ah shit, we should have come in. More rain’s come… Whole track’s wet now.
Adami
You should stop in one lap, keep it together, Charles car behind. He’s on hard. Safety Car, Safety Car.
Hamilton
Yeah, mate, it’s so slippery. It’s too dangerous to stay on this tyre. What do you suggest? It’s come down quite a lot. I don’t think this is going to dry up any time soon. Yeah it’s fully, full wet. Like inters.
Adami
Yes, stand by. We think boxing if you’re happy. Still pissing down in the pit lane.
Hamilton
Yeah, it’s very slippery.
Adami
Yeah. Okay, box, box.
Hamilton
Are you sure you put more wing that I had earlier?
Adami
Confirm. Four clicks. K2 on. Tyre target seven, tyre target position seven. All clear ahead. Charge button on and mode X.
“We lost a lot of places”
Leclerc passed Hamilton immediately after the restart
The radio went quiet for several laps immediately after the next restart as Hamilton had his hands full. Leclerc passed him but he gained a position from Pierre Gasly.
Lap: 48/57 HAM: 1’59.219
Hamilton
We lost a lot of positions?
Adami
Hamilton appears not to hear this P9 and P10.
Hamilton
We lost a lot of places.
Adami
Multi red FM position nine. Position one, sorry.
Hamilton
Is everyone ahead on inters?
Adami
Everybody on inters.
Hamilton
Thought you said it wasn’t going to rain much? Just missed a big opportunity there. What position am I now? Back in…
Lap: 49/57 HAM: 2’24.575
Adami
P9
Hamilton
Nine again. Shit. How many laps left… Sorry, I didn’t realise the radio was on.
Adami
There’ll be eight laps to go. Multi white RB8.
Adami
Driver default delta zero on when you can.
Adami
You can reset your multifunction position.
Lap: 50/57 HAM: 2’17.095
Hamilton
How many laps left?
Adami
Seven laps to go when you cross the line. Right, you’ve got Gasly ahead of you, then Hulkenberg and Stroll. P6, Stroll.
Lap: 51/57 HAM: 2’11.311
Hamilton
I didn’t hear what you just said. I’ve got cars what ahead of me?
Adami
Ahead is Gasly, Hulkenberg and Stroll. Stroll P6. Multi white RB position one and Safety Car in this lap. And behind you, instead, you got Charles, Tsunoda, Ocon, Piastri, car behind.
Adami
It’ll be just K2 on for the restart. K2 off at turn three. Leclerc passes Hamilton immediately after the restart. No messages are exchanged for a while
“Leave me, it’s the last lap, I can see him”
A tough race had one final blow for Hamilton. Oscar Piastri, recovering from a spin earlier in the race, mugged him around the outside of turn nine on the final lap, leaving him last of the points-scorers.
