Lewis Hamilton Defies Ferrari Order to Cede Position to Charles Leclerc at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

During the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were involved in a strategic position swap that did not go as planned. Earlier in the race, Leclerc was instructed to let Hamilton pass so Hamilton could attempt to overtake cars ahead on fresher tires, which he did. However, Hamilton was unable to make progress and the team ordered him to give the position back to Leclerc on the final lap. Hamilton slowed and moved off the racing line to comply but crossed the finish line ahead of Leclerc by about 0.46 seconds, missing the timing to let his teammate pass. Both drivers downplayed the incident since it involved eighth and ninth places, with Leclerc expressing concern mainly if such behavior occurred in higher-stakes positions. Hamilton apologized for the misjudgment, explaining he received the message late and was focused on the car ahead, while Leclerc emphasized the need to follow team orders in future races when positions matter more.