Lewis Hamilton has launched a passionate defence of Fred Vasseur's position as Ferrari team principal, but insists that changes at the top are necessary. The seven-time world champion spoke out ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix amid intensifying speculation over Vasseur's future.
Full Support for Vasseur
Hamilton did not hold back in praising Vasseur. "Fred is the guy to lead us. He's doing a fantastic job. If you look at the history, how many people they're swapping out that role, and I feel like it's in a better place than it's been before," he said. He stressed that success is not a one-man show but a collective effort.
The comments came after Ferrari took the unusual step of hastily arranging a media call on Tuesday to publicly back Vasseur. Hamilton welcomed the move, though he emphasised the team was already unified. "I think it's good that they did it. But we were already unified. Outside sources seem to be so negative towards us and trying to break our spirit, but they are not succeeding," he stated.
Horner Speculation and External Pressure
Vasseur's position has come under scrutiny, with Christian Horner, former Red Bull boss, repeatedly linked to the Ferrari role. In a recent interview with The Times, Horner admitted Ferrari would be "the dream". This has fuelled negative narratives that Hamilton believes are designed to destabilise the team.
However, Hamilton pointed to the real issue: a power deficit. "Every weekend we carry a 0.4s deficit, if not sometimes 0.6s, just in straight-line power. We're aware of it and that's something we need to work on," he explained, praising the team's efforts to fix it for next year.
Necessary Structural Changes
While backing Vasseur, Hamilton acknowledged there is a structure above him that needs review. "There are changes that I would make but I'm not going to talk about what those are," he said. He insisted that blame should not fall solely on Vasseur. "There's people above that are also part of it. It's not about one person," he added.
Hamilton also highlighted the improved relationship with Ferrari's hierarchy. "Fred has been fantastic working with me, and our relationship as a whole, even with the bosses, is in a much better place than it ever was," he said. He remains committed to pushing for the changes he believes are needed, though he declined to elaborate.
Focus on Racing and the Future
With the Bahrain Grand Prix looming, Hamilton wants the team to stay focused. He made it clear that he and Vasseur are in it together. "Fred is in his position, he's not going anywhere, and I'm here to stay with him. I still believe fully in where we're going," he concluded. This support sends a strong message that Hamilton is ready to protect Vasseur while driving internal change at Ferrari.
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