Lewis Hamilton has launched an impassioned defence of Frederic Vasseur as Ferrari’s team principal and suggested he would like to instead see other structural changes at the team.
Hamilton was speaking two days after Ferrari took the unusual step of arranging a media briefing for journalists in which a spokesperson said the company’s management retained “full confidence” in Vasseur in the wake of growing speculation around the Frenchman’s position in the team principal role amid a run of five races without a podium.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Hamilton welcomed Ferrari’s public move to silence the recent noise around the team – external criticism and speculation which the Briton said was “trying to break our spirit” but “not succeeding”.
“I think it’s good that they did it,” said Hamilton of Ferrari’s support of Vasseur.
“In terms of how it unifies the team, I think we already were unified. Honestly, outside sources seem to be so negative towards us as a team and be trying to break our spirit but they are not succeeding.
“So people can continue with the negative narrative but inside everyone is working really hard.
“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, but ultimately it’s not a one-man situation.
“It’s lots and lots of people coming together and if you want to point fingers, point it somewhere else.There’s people above that are also are a part of it as well. It’s a lot of people.
“I feel like if you take things away from this message, Fred is in his position, he’s not going anywhere and I’m here to stay with him and I still believe fully in where we’re going.”
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Former Renault and Sauber chief Vasseur is in his fourth season in charge of the Maranello F1 outfit since replacing Mattia Binotto in the role from 2023. The 58-year-old first worked with Hamilton in what is now F3 and F2 in 2005-2006 before reuniting when the seven-time world champion joined from Mercedes in a blockbuster transfer last year.
“I am happy with my treatment [by the team]. Fred has been fantastic working with me and I think our relationship as a whole, even with the bosses, is in a much better place than it ever was,” added Hamilton.
“Of course, people making comments have absolutely no clue what they are talking about, ultimately, because they are not inside the team.
“What’s happening in the team or how it’s structured, where the weaknesses are, obviously I am in the team and I know all those – I’m not going to speak on them, but will I continue to try and work with those people that are in power to make the changes.
“Making changes is not a quick thing, people aren’t always willing to do so very early on, but Fred has done a lot of the changes that I’ve asked for already and there are more for us to do.”
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Speaking to the written media, Hamilton added: “Fred is a fantastic leader. He really is the guy to take this team in the right direction. However, there is a structure that’s there for some time. Whether or not that needs looking at moving forwards, there are also people above Fred, and it’s not about one person.
“Fred has led the team, helped make changes in this past year. He’s helped us get to the second Constructors’ Championship. That’s a huge step from last year. The deficit we have is simply just on engine, and that’s something we’re not we don’t shy away from. We know that.
“Every weekend we carry a 0.4s deficit, if not sometimes 0.6s, just in straight-line power, and we’re aware of it, and that’s something we need to try to work on. They’re working extremely hard to try and fix that for next year.”
At Ferrari Vasseur is team principal and general manager of the F1 team and ultimately reports in to the heads of the whole company, which includes its road-car division, chief executive Benedetto Vigna and executive chairman John Elkann.
Lewis Hamilton is third in the Drivers’ Championship, with Ferrari second to Mercedes in the Constructors’
Asked about the comparison to his former team Mercedes, where Toto Wolff is the Brackley F1 outfit’s team principal, chief executive and one-third co-owner with the German manufacturer and Ineos, Hamilton said: “There are changes that I would make but I’m not going to talk about what those are.
“Toto’s in a different position to Fred.
“The structures are a lot different.
“That’s all I can say on it really.”
‘It’s not an easy time for Fred’
Frederic Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton have known each other for over 20 years
Vasseur has overseen Ferrari’s return to race-winning ways this year after a poor 2025 but their world championship challenge to Mercedes has faded in recent months with their last podium finish coming six races ago in Belgium.
The Frenchman signed a multi-year contract extension last year but there had recently been speculation in the Italian media about his job security beyond this season.
The focus on him was heightened last week by an interview published in The Times with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who described Ferrari as “the dream” in Formula 1 and said it would be the only team he would consider coming back to the sport for without an equity stake.
Vasseur described the noise around him as “frustrating” after last Saturday’s race in Baku.
Hamilton said he reiterated his own support to the Frenchman directly and believes changing team principal would only be “detrimental”.
“I think it’s not an easy time for Fred so it’s good that the team came out with something earlier this week,” added Hamilton.
“Not that it really changes much but at least gives him a little bit more confidence.
“I’ve also just let him know that I support him 100 per cent. I wouldn’t be here without Fred and I really do believe Fred is the person to take us [forward].
“Swapping him out and putting [someone else in] it won’t change how the team’s moving forwards, if anything it will be detrimental to it.
“I think consistency with Fred, he knows the team, he helped the team build the best… I think we have had the best car this year, it’s unfortunate we just have been down like four tenths every weekend on power, and that’s just unfortunately something that is difficult to overcome. But we’re working on that for next year.”
Sky Sports F1’s live schedule Bahrain GP in Malaysia
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Friday October 2
5am: Bahrain GP Practice One (session starts at 5.30am)*
7.30am: Team Bosses’ Press Conference
8.45am: Bahrain GP Practice Two (session starts at 9am)*
10.15am: The F1 Show*
Saturday October 3
5.15am: Bahrain GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30am)*
8am: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up*
9am: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP reaction*
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch live coverage from Friday morning, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime