Lewis Hamilton has spoken out. The seven-time world champion has firmly denied claims that he has been pushing Ferrari to replace key on-track personnel. The speculation arose after Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera reported that Hamilton was allegedly seeking changes to the team's staff following a series of disappointing race executions.
The report did not name specific individuals but highlighted Hamilton's frustrations over recent races. For instance, at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, he vented over team radio about being stuck behind teammate Charles Leclerc for too long while hunting for a podium. Then at Monza, he was unhappy with Leclerc's collision with him on the opening lap, stating that team boss Fred Vasseur needed to manage the situation.
Corriere della Sera even claimed that Hamilton's relationship with Vasseur—with whom he won the GP2 title in 2006—had become strained. But all of this was denied by the Briton on social media. "I've seen some of the stories that have gone out and I want to clear it up here. I've never asked for anyone on my team to be replaced. Everyone I work with works hard every day and their dedication is what moves us forward," Hamilton stated.
He added, "I always try to empower and lift people to be the best versions of themselves or at least see the best in themselves. I may not always achieve that but it's my intention and what I'm here to do. We all work together and that will continue."
However, it is no secret that Hamilton did make changes to his support network ahead of 2026. Last season, he endured an underwhelming debut with Ferrari, failing to score a podium and finishing sixth in the championship, 86 points behind Leclerc in fifth. As a result, he opted for a different race engineer, with Carlo Santi and Cedric Grosjean replacing Riccardo Adami, along with other tweaks that have led to a much-improved 2026 campaign.
In Barcelona last June, he nailed a three-stop strategy to take his maiden win for Ferrari after 14 races with the team. He is now third in the standings, though still 101 points behind Mercedes' runaway leader Kimi Antonelli. Technical and personnel changes have been in the spotlight, but Hamilton insists that collaboration and teamwork remain his foundation.
This statement quells speculation that could disrupt Ferrari's internal stability amid a challenging season. With third place in the championship, Hamilton still has a chance to pressure the top two, but he knows that team cohesion is key to closing the gap. As he put it, "We all work together and that will continue."
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