Lewis Hamilton calls for the end of the manufacturing while Ferrari clarifies rumors concerning Fred Vasseur

Lewis Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction when reading speculation surrounding the position of Fred Vasseur as Ferrari team director, who is under surveillance. On Thursday, several Italian media suggested that Vasseur suffered strong pressure in his role and that Antonello Coletta, team director Ferrari in WEC, could be envisaged to replace him. Coletta has supervised the two consecutive victories of Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the past two years.

According to the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Vasseur was questioned due to the regressive performance of Ferrari after finishing 2024 with perhaps the fastest car of the grid. However, the SF-25 did not have the same success as the car of the previous year: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton regularly compete for the podium, while McLaren and Red Bull dominate the victories. Ferrari accused a 197 point delay on McLaren after the first nine races, which almost destroys his championship hopes and arouses speculation about the future of Vasseur.

In addition, the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport stressed that the next three races-the Grands Prix of Canada, Austria and Great Britain-will be crucial for the future of Vasseur at Ferrari and will be used to decide if he continues to lead the team.

Contacted by Planetf1.com To clarify these rumors, Ferrari categorically denied them, qualifying them as pure invention. Before the Grand Prix of Canada, Hamilton tackled the issue, stressing that Vasseur was the main reason for his arrival at Ferrari, because it was he who contacted him at the end of 2023. Hamilton said: “It is not pleasant to hear this kind of stories circulating. First of all, I love to work with Fred. Fred is the main reason why I am in this team and I had the opportunity to be here, so I will always be grateful to him. We are together and work hard behind the scenes. Everything is not perfect, but I’m here to work with the team and with Fred. I want Fred to be there. I think it is he who will take us to the top. »»

Rumors have even linked Ferrari to an attempt to attract the boss of Red Bull, Christian Horner, although Horner specified in an exclusive interview with Planetf1.com that his “heart and soul are with Red Bull”.

Speculations concerning Vasseur began during the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix and intensified with an article in the Corriere dello Sport. Hamilton expressed his dissatisfaction with these claims and said he would absolutely not support Vasseur’s replacement: “In the end, what people wrote is absurd. Most of them know what’s going on behind the scenes. It’s not easy, it’s not a sinecure. We carry out changes, there is a lot of work to do and, of course, the pressure is strong because we want to win. But it’s not on the agenda for the moment. I do not think it is planned, at least not to my knowledge, and I would certainly not support it. »»

Fred Vasseur took the direction of Ferrari before the 2023 season, replacing Mattia Binotto. The team has made clear progress in terms of organization and strategy, and aligned one of the fastest cars in 2024. This progress aroused new expectations for the season, especially after the arrival of the seven -time F1 Hamilton world champion, looking for an eighth title, a record. However, Ferrari’s decision to modify the design of the car, including the front suspension, struggled the team to obtain minor results. Hamilton also struggled to adapt quickly, drawing criticism from biased media.

Hamilton believes that Vasseur needs more time to implement the changes and shape the team as he pleases, in particular with a view to the revolutionary regulations planned for 2026. He and Vasseur get involved in the long term: “Recruiting new people, whether they are drivers, engineers or executives, takes time and the impact is considerable. It is therefore not subject to discussion. I’m here to win with Fred, and he has all my support. To all those who write that I plan not to run, I just started my first year at Ferrari and I will stay there for several years. I’m here for the long term. There is no doubt about my current position or what I want to accomplish with this team. So stop inventing things. »»