Key Highlights
- Lewis Hamilton has strongly backed Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur amid renewed speculation about his future.
- Former Red Bull chief Christian Horner’s comments about Ferrari intensified scrutiny around the team’s leadership.
- Hamilton said Vasseur has helped Ferrari make significant progress, including reaching second in the constructors’ championship.
Lewis Hamilton Gives Frederic Vasseur Strong Ferrari Backing
Lewis Hamilton has declared that Frederic Vasseur is the right person to lead Ferrari, as renewed speculation continues to surround the Formula 1 team principal’s future. Vasseur faced similar rumours just over a year ago, but those claims were quelled after he signed a new contract.
Scrutiny increased again after former Red Bull chief Christian Horner discussed the possibility of returning to Formula 1 in an interview with The Times promoting his forthcoming memoir. Horner said that accepting an F1 role would generally require some form of ownership stake, with Ferrari representing the exception.
“I did 21 years sitting on the pitwall. I don’t need to go back to that… At this stage in my life, there’s only one team for which I would accept non-participation in ownership,” Horner said.
“Would I consider Ferrari? I mean, Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1. It’s the dream. And arguably it’s the sleeping giant of Formula 1.”
Although Horner was not directly suggesting that he wanted to replace Vasseur, his comments generated considerable attention in Italy. The resulting speculation frustrated Vasseur, who said Ferrari was already dealing with enough distractions in its day-to-day operations.
“We are not working in perfect serenity, if that is the question,” he said.
“For me, first, but for everybody on the team, for the media, for 50% of the questions about this, I think it’s a bit of a frustrating situation. Mr Horner is looking for a job – that everybody knows – everywhere.”
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Hamilton Highlights Vasseur’s Progress at Ferrari
Ferrari has since found itself defending its leadership structure again. Earlier this week, the team stated that Ferrari president John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna continued to fully support Vasseur. Speaking in Kuala Lumpur ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Hamilton delivered his strongest public endorsement yet of the Ferrari team principal.
“I think Fred has the full backing,” Hamilton said in Kuala Lumpur ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. “You can see they’ve obviously switched out lots of different people in Fred’s role but Fred is a fantastic leader. He really is the guy to take this team in the right direction.
“There are also people above Fred and it’s not about one person. Fred has led the team. He’s helped make changes in this past year. He’s helped us get to second in the constructors’ championship, that’s a huge step from last year.”
Hamilton also criticised the intense negativity surrounding Ferrari, saying the team receives disproportionate scrutiny compared with other Formula 1 competitors that are performing worse. He acknowledged that Ferrari’s status as the sport’s most iconic and valuable brand naturally increases the attention on every error or underperformance.
“For me, it’s frustrating to see all the negativity because you see other people making mistakes and no one really says too much about them,” he pointed out. “We either make the same mistake or are not perfect and we know we’re not. It’s 10 times worse for some reason for Ferrari. But that’s also to be expected given that it’s the best brand here, it’s the most iconic by far.”
Hamilton Says Ferrari’s Leadership Structure May Need Review
Hamilton, who previously experienced a different leadership model during his long tenure with Mercedes, said Ferrari’s internal structure was worth examining. However, he declined to explain what specific changes he would make, keeping his proposals private.
“There is a structure that’s been there for some time, whether or not that needs looking at moving forward… There are changes that I would make, but I’m not going to talk about what those are,” he said.
“Toto [Wolff] is in a different position to Fred and the structure’s a lot different. So, that’s all I can say on it, really.”
Why This Matters
Ferrari’s leadership remains under heightened scrutiny because of the team’s unique position in Formula 1. The combination of its global profile, historical importance and high expectations means that management decisions and sporting mistakes attract greater attention than similar events at rival teams.
Hamilton’s comments reinforce Ferrari’s stated position that Vasseur retains senior-level support, while also acknowledging that the team’s wider organisational structure could be reviewed. For now, Ferrari’s focus remains on building on its progress to second in the constructors’ championship and reducing the distractions surrounding its leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Lewis Hamilton say about Frederic Vasseur?
Lewis Hamilton said Vasseur has the full backing of Ferrari and described him as a “fantastic leader” who is the right person to take the team in the correct direction.
Why is Christian Horner linked with the Ferrari team principal role?
Horner’s comments about Ferrari being the only team he would consider joining without an ownership stake were interpreted by some as interest in the role, although he did not explicitly say he wanted to replace Vasseur.
What progress has Ferrari made under Vasseur?
Hamilton said Vasseur helped Ferrari make changes during the past year and reach second in the constructors’ championship, calling that a major improvement compared with the previous season.
