MONTREAL — Lewis Hamilton declared Ferrari crew principal Fred Vasseur “the particular person to take us to the highest” amid recent experiences the crew is contemplating sacking him.
Italian publication Corriere della Sera reported on Wednesday that Vasseur is on more and more skinny ice after an “unsatisfactory” begin to 2025.
The report steered that Antonello Coletta, who has guided Ferrari’s endurance crew to back-to-back Le Mans 24 Hours victories, has been tipped as a possible alternative.
When requested by ESPN concerning the report, a Ferrari spokesperson stated: “Not even price commenting [on].”
Hamilton joined Ferrari from Mercedes and has beforehand spoken concerning the function Vasseur performed in convincing him to affix.
Requested concerning the experiences forward of the Canadian Grand Prix on Thursday, Hamilton threw his full backing behind Ferrari’s under-pressure boss.
“It is undoubtedly not good to listen to that there is tales like that which might be on the market,” Hamilton stated. “Firstly, I really like working with Fred. Fred is the principle purpose I am on this crew, and received the chance to be right here, for which I am perpetually grateful for.
“And we’re on this collectively. We’re working arduous within the background. Issues aren’t good. I am right here to work with the crew, but in addition with Fred. I need Fred right here. I do imagine Fred is the particular person to take us to the highest.
“And in order that’s that. So it is all, it is finally, it is nonsense what individuals have written. Most individuals do not know what is going on on within the background. And, and it is not all straightforward.”
On a possible exit, he added: “I do not suppose that is on the playing cards, so far as I am conscious. That is actually not one thing that I’d be supportive of. I am right here to win with Fred. He has my full help.”
Bar a dash race victory in China, Hamilton has not but completed on the rostrum since becoming a member of Ferrari.
Hamilton known as the Spanish Grand Prix the “worst race” of his storied profession, however he used the chance to hit out at tales questioning his motivation to proceed.
“After which additionally to all the opposite, everybody that is writing tales of me contemplating not racing, I imply, I’ve actually solely simply began with Ferrari, and I am right here for a number of years. I am right here for the lengthy haul. So there is no such thing as a query in the place my head’s at and what I am working in direction of attaining at this crew. So, there’s zero doubts, so please cease … making up … stuff.”
Ferrari arrived in 2025 on a wave of hype following Hamilton’s arrival and its robust end to final season, which noticed it narrowly pipped to the constructors’ championship by McLaren.
Vasseur arrived in 2023 after changing Mattia Binotto and had been credited as being a relaxing affect behind the scenes at a crew that has so usually been slowed down by outdoors noise and the large expectations from its residence press.
Nonetheless, these knives are very a lot out as soon as once more within the Italian media, alternate between being the best advocate for and the loudest critic of the nation’s most well-known racing export.
As has been a typical theme within the crew’s historical past throughout powerful moments, the tone round Italian media reporting round Ferrari has shifted dramatically in current weeks, which is usually a telling signal of how issues are going internally.
Reviews about Vasseur’s future have been gaining traction. Two weeks in the past, Pink Bull boss Christian Horner denied a Bild report that Ferrari chairman John Elkann had approached him about changing Vasseur.
The Corriere report talked about Horner stays an “previous obsession” of Elkann’s.
Talking two weeks in the past, Horner stated: “Look, in fact, it is all the time flattering to be related to different groups, however my dedication is 100% with Pink Bull. It all the time has been and positively might be for the long run.
