Lewis Hamilton gets a new Ferrari nickname as a never-before-heard team radio clip comes out
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur gave Lewis Hamilton a funny new nickname during a rare team radio moment.
After a rocky start with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix getting cancelled, the 2026 F1 season is finally in full swing.
At the start, Mercedes driver George Russell was the favorite to win the 2026 World Championship. But after five races, it’s actually his teammate Kimi Antonelli who’s leading the pack.
The 19-year-old Antonelli has won four races and landed on the podium in all five, racking up 131 points. Russell is second with 88 points, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Hamilton have 75 and 72 points respectively.
Fans have been happy to see Hamilton doing well this season too. The seven-time World Champion got back on the podium at the Chinese Grand Prix and did it again in Canada last week.
In Montreal, Hamilton had his best finish as a Ferrari driver, coming in second behind Antonelli and ahead of his teammate Leclerc. This means Hamilton has matched Leclerc’s two podiums so far, with Leclerc having finished top three in Australia and Japan.
When Hamilton crossed the finish line in Montreal, Ferrari team principal Vasseur was probably one of the most excited people. He showed it by giving Hamilton a new funny nickname.
“Good job, Luigi,” Vasseur said to Hamilton.
While many might think the name Luigi is from the famous Italian plumber’s brother, it’s actually the Italian version of ‘Lewis.’
That didn’t stop Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz from jokingly asking Vasseur about it, saying, “What did you call Lewis on the radio at the end? Old G?”
“Luigi!” Vasseur replied, then laughed for over 10 seconds.
After the race, Hamilton shared, “I don’t know. In Italy, they always used to call me ‘Luigi’ when I was a kid.”
Hamilton’s strong start to 2026 has made people wonder about his future, especially after reports before the season said he might retire soon.
But after his best results since joining Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton made it clear he’s not going anywhere.
“There are lots of people trying to say I’ll retire, but it’s not even on my mind,” he said.
“I’m already thinking about what’s next and planning for the next five years. I’m definitely here for a while.
“My contract is clear, and I love what I do with all my heart. So, I’m going to be here for quite some time — get used to it!”