Hamilton backs Vasseur but hints Ferrari leadership needs change
Lewis Hamilton says Fred Vasseur is the man to take Ferrari forward, but the leadership above and around the team principal needs a hard look.
Speaking on Thursday at Sepang, Hamilton called Vasseur a fantastic leader and said he “really is the guy to take this team in the right direction,” according to The Guardian. He was talking ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being staged at the Malaysian circuit after a race earlier this season was cancelled because of the war in the Middle East.
The timing matters. Ferrari issued a statement on Tuesday saying the team had full confidence in Vasseur. That followed fresh paddock talk about his future, including former Red Bull boss Christian Horner describing Ferrari as his dream job.
Hamilton shut down the suggestion that Vasseur should go. He said Vasseur is not going anywhere and that he is here to stay with him. He also condemned what he called the negative narrative around Vasseur’s leadership, urging critics to point fingers somewhere else, as reported by Formula1.com.
Then came the twist. Hamilton said Ferrari’s wider leadership structure could be overhauled or looked at moving forwards. He did not name names, but the chain above Vasseur is short. Executive chair John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna both sit above the team principal.
His team-mate agrees Vasseur should stay. Charles Leclerc has rejected speculation around the Frenchman’s future and backed him to continue in the role.
On track, Ferrari have had moments without mounting a sustained title push. Hamilton took his first win for the team in Barcelona and Leclerc won at Silverstone. Ferrari sit second in the constructors’ championship, the season-long points table for teams, but 160 points behind Mercedes. Hamilton trails title leader Kimi Antonelli by 103 points.
That gap explains the noise. Ferrari arrived this season expecting to fight for both championships. Instead they are chasing. When a big team chases, questions about the boss usually follow.
What makes this stand out is the split in Hamilton’s message. The support for Vasseur could hardly be stronger. The hint about change higher up is just as clear. He wants continuity on the pit wall and fresh thinking in the boardroom.
For fans, this means the next act is not about the driver line-up. It is about who sets the direction at Maranello and how much time Vasseur gets to deliver it. As quoted by Motorsport.com, Hamilton’s verdict was simple: Vasseur is the right leader, and the team around him has to improve.
