As whispers grow in Italy about Fred Vasseur’s position at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton isn’t entertaining any of them.
Earlier this week, Corriere della Sera suggested that Vasseur’s future as Ferrari’s team principal is in doubt following what it called an “unsatisfactory” beginning to the 2025 Formula One season. Speculation has also surfaced that endurance racing head Antonello Coletta — who oversaw Ferrari’s recent Le Mans double — could be in line to take over.
Asked to respond to the claims, a Ferrari team representative told ESPN: “Not even worth commenting [on].”
But Hamilton, who left Mercedes to join Ferrari this year, offered strong public backing for Vasseur heading into race weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
“It’s definitely not nice to hear that there’s stories like that that are out there,” Hamilton said Thursday. “Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred is the main reason I’m in this team, and got the opportunity to be here, for which I’m forever grateful for.
“And we’re in this together. We’re working hard in the background. Things aren’t perfect. I’m here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top.
“And so that’s that. So it’s all, it’s ultimately, it’s nonsense what people have written. Most people don’t know what’s going on in the background. And, and it isn’t all easy.”
As for talk that Vasseur might soon be out, Hamilton was direct: “I don’t think that’s on the cards, as far as I’m aware. That’s certainly not something that I would be supportive of. I’m here to win with Fred. He has my full support.”
Vasseur took over at Ferrari in 2023, stepping in after Mattia Binotto’s departure. His arrival was seen by many within the paddock as a stabilizing move for a team long subject to immense external pressure and media churn — particularly from back home in Italy.
Hamilton, though a marquee signing for the Scuderia, has yet to reach the podium aside from a sprint win in China. His struggles have fueled further scrutiny. He called the Spanish Grand Prix the “worst race” of his career and took time to shut down suggestions that he was losing motivation.
“And then also to all the other, everyone that’s writing stories of me considering not racing, I mean, I’ve literally only just started with Ferrari, and I’m here for several years. I’m here for the long haul,” Hamilton said. “So there is no question in where my head’s at and what I’m working towards achieving at this team. So, there’s zero doubts, so please stop … making up … stuff.”
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