Lewis Hamilton's angry radio messages with Mercedes engineers

Updated 30/03/2015 at 13:29 GMT

Lewis Hamilton engaged in a number of angry radio messages with his Mercedes team during Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix as his frustrations mounted.

Lewis Hamilton (Getty)

Image credit: Eurosport

Hamilton, who cut an exasperated figure for much of the Grand Prix, finished second behind Sebastian Vettel after having started the race on pole.

The reigning world champion complained to his team about the “confusing” messages that were coming from the pit wall and appeared very frustrated with the communication he was receiving over the car radio.

Most striking of what Hamilton said to his team was his reaction to being told he would catch Vettel with five laps remaining of the race as he negotiated a tricky stretch of the circuit.

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“Don’t talk to me in a corner!” he said, as reported by Daniel Johnson the Daily Telegraph. “I almost went off.”

Speaking about his communication with the Mercedes engineers, Hamilton spoke of the difficulty he had in hearing what was important and what wasn’t.

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Lewis Hamilton at the Malaysian Grand Prix

Image credit: Reuters

“I remember there were some conversations going on, Paddy [Lowe, technical director] had pressed the wrong button and I could hear them yapping in my ear,” he said.

“He was asking 'am I going to do another stop'. I thought it was my last stop so it confused me, which was not helpful."

During his final stint, Hamilton recalled: “This is the wrong tyre man”.

When the team accidentally broadcast a message, Hamilton added: “I can hear you. I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing.

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Lewis Hamilton

Image credit: AFP

“Paddy says I might be doing another stop."

Talking more generally about Mercedes’ race strategy which did not come off as Vettel and Ferrari hit back after the first race in Melbourne, Hamilton spoke in a despondent manner.

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"It felt like it was lost at the first stop,” he said.

"We were a little bit quicker than them through some stints but it was too big a gap to close up."

Formula 1