Hamilton rejects claims his Ferrari radio messages are calculated

Lewis Hamilton has rejected suggestions that his pointed Ferrari team radio messages are calculated, saying he will not be silenced after the Mexico City Grand Prix. He was furious after his opening-lap battle with team-mate Charles Leclerc derailed Ferrari's hopes of victory, with Leclerc receiving a five-second penalty for cutting the track and Hamilton losing a place to Max Verstappen, who went on to win.

Hamilton said that in the car his heart rate is high and there is no time to be calculated, and he argued that drivers are encouraged to flag potential infringements to officials. He pointed to a practice-session incident involving Isack Hadjar as an example of why staying silent can matter. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur accused both drivers of a lack of respect towards the team.

Hamilton said he would not apologise for being authentic, adding: "I'm not going to be silenced; I've never been silenced."