Lewis Hamilton staunchly defended Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, labeling speculation about his job security as “nonsense.” Hamilton expressed strong support for Vasseur, calling him “the person to take us to the top.” Reports circulating in the Italian media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix had raised questions about Vasseur`s position beyond the current season, following Ferrari`s less-than-ideal performance this year.
Vasseur is currently in his third year leading the iconic F1 team. Hamilton joined this season in a high-profile switch from Mercedes, reuniting the pair who previously achieved title success together in junior racing categories two decades ago.
When asked about the reports published in Italy, Hamilton stated, “I was just made aware of it before I got here, so I`ve not read the stories. It`s definitely not nice to hear that there are stories that are like that out there.”
He continued, “`Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred`s the main reason I`m in this team and got the opportunity to be here, which I`m forever grateful for, and we`re in this together.`”
“`We are working hard behind the scenes. Things aren`t perfect, but for me, I`m here to work with the team and with Fred. I want Fred here.`”
“`I strongly believe Fred is the right person to lead us to success,` Hamilton asserted, concluding, `Ultimately, it`s nonsense what people have written.`”
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Hamilton Addresses Rumors About His Own Future
Ferrari had aimed to contend for the world championships this season after showing strong form in the latter half of the previous year, where Charles Leclerc accumulated the most points after the summer break, and the team finished only 14 points shy of constructors` champions McLaren.
Despite climbing to second place in the constructors` standings after the recent Spanish GP, Ferrari trails McLaren by a significant 197 points after nine races. Both Leclerc and Hamilton are also considerably behind in the Drivers` Championship.
While there have been recent signs of progress, including Leclerc`s podium finishes in the last two events, the team`s performance overall has fallen short of pre-season expectations.
Podcast discussion on Lewis Hamilton`s performance and outlook after the Spanish GP.
Commenting on the ongoing efforts to improve the team`s situation, Hamilton remarked, “`Most people don`t know what is going on in the background, and it isn`t all easy.`”
“`It`s not always smooth sailing behind the scenes. We are working hard to make necessary changes, and there is naturally a lot of pressure because we are focused on winning.`”
“`However, Frederic`s position is definitely not part of any current discussion.`”
Reaffirming his stance when asked again, Hamilton emphasized that he would “certainly not be supportive of” any move to remove Vasseur, reiterating, “`I`m here to win with Fred. He has my full support.`”
The seven-time world champion then shifted focus from Vasseur`s future to address rumors about his own commitment to Ferrari amidst his challenging start with the team.
“`And also, to everyone writing stories of me considering not racing – I literally only just started here with Ferrari,` stated Hamilton, who signed a multi-year contract with the Scuderia.”
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“`I`m here for several years, and I`m here for the long haul.`”
“`There`s no question where my head`s at and what I`m working towards achieving with this team. So, there`s zero doubts. Please stop making stuff up.`”
Charles Leclerc Also Dismisses Rumors
Italian media reports had also suggested that teammate Charles Leclerc was considering his future at Ferrari following a challenging start to the year.
Leclerc, who has been with Ferrari since 2019 and signed a long-term contract extending “several seasons” in 2024, also dismissed these rumors in Montreal.
“`I`m very surprised. I have no idea where that comes from. I would rather just ignore it,` he commented.”
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“`I`ve never said anything of this sort in the last three races. If anything, I keep saying how much I love the team and how much I want to bring Ferrari to the top, so I was surprised by the reports.`”
Leclerc acknowledged that rumors surrounding Ferrari are common but believes they do not affect the team internally.
“`We share a vision, the three of us – Fred, Lewis, and myself – to get back to winning. We`ve been working to put that plan together. That`s our goal, and we will stick to it,` he stated.”
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“`We are absolutely not happy with our current situation, but we need to discover whatever key element McLaren has found that gives them their advantage.`”
“`Pressure is normal when you`re working for Ferrari. Second place is never enough, but we are all aware of this. The external pressure doesn`t influence the high pressure we already put on ourselves.`”
“`Currently, McLaren is the stronger team, and it`s up to us to react. We need to disregard all the external noise around the team, which is something I`ve become accustomed to,` Leclerc concluded.”
