Hamilton and Leclerc Back Vasseur, but Hamilton Points to Ferrari’s Hierarchy
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have publicly defended Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, but their answers differed in one telling respect. Leclerc defended the man. Hamilton defended him too, then turned attention to the people above him.
Both drivers were speaking to reporters at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of this weekend’s race, after a week in which speculation about Vasseur’s future dominated the Formula 1 paddock.
How the speculation began
The reports intensified after Christian Horner, the former Red Bull team principal, said Ferrari was the one team he would consider joining without an ownership stake. Ferrari moved quickly to respond. In a statement, the team said its position had not changed, that it had confidence in Vasseur and his team, and that it would not comment on assumptions from outside the company. GPblog reported that no contact had been made with Horner about a possible appointment.
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Vasseur has led the team since early 2023 and agreed a contract extension during the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. That deal quieted an earlier round of rumours but has not ended them. Vasseur himself voiced frustration with the constant questions in Baku, saying the talk affects everyone in the team, particularly the mechanics in the garage. The timing adds to the strain, because the pressure has built during the stretch of the season when Ferrari had hoped to consolidate second place in the championship.
Leclerc: “never any doubt” inside the team
Leclerc said he has always stressed how much he trusts Vasseur and how important the Frenchman is to the team, describing a very special relationship between them. He added that Vasseur is extremely capable and will be extremely valuable in the years ahead.
The Monegasque said the team had never doubted internally that Vasseur has its support, but that it is sometimes necessary to say so publicly. He dismissed the speculation as “silly rumours” and described the volume of it as disrespectful to a group that is pushing itself to the limit.
Hamilton: backing with a caveat
Hamilton’s endorsement was just as firm but broader in scope. He called Vasseur a “fantastic leader” and said he is the right person to take the team in the right direction. He credited Vasseur with helping Ferrari climb to second in the constructors’ championship, a significant step from last year.
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He then widened the frame. Hamilton said attention at Ferrari tends to fall on one individual in one role, and noted that the team has changed many people in that position over the years. He said a structure has existed for some time and questioned whether it should be reviewed, adding that there are people above Vasseur and that the issue is not about one person.
Ferrari’s hierarchy places executive chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna above the team principal. Hamilton did not name either man, and his words should not be read as criticism of a specific individual.
The comments are consistent with his stance after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he answered a one-word “Yes” when Sky Sports F1 asked whether Ferrari was on a good path under Vasseur.
An outside view
Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has questioned how power is distributed at Maranello. He suggested that if major decisions are taken above the team principal, the arrangement could undermine Vasseur’s own authority. Croft also raised the possibility that Hamilton’s close relationship with Elkann might affect how that authority is perceived. This is Croft’s analysis rather than established fact, and no such claim has been made by the team.
What is confirmed and what is not
Ferrari has not announced any change in leadership. Reports that executives are discussing a succession plan come from paddock sources cited by PlanetF1, and have not been verified by the team.
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A separate claim relayed from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, alleging a poor relationship between Vasseur and Vigna, also lacks independent confirmation. Both remain allegations.
Pressure on the track
The debate unfolds against a difficult run of form. Ferrari won two of three races earlier in the season, through Hamilton in Barcelona and Leclerc at Silverstone, but results have since faltered. As of the Baku race, neither driver had reached the podium since the summer break. Both drivers have acknowledged a power deficit relative to their rivals, and Hamilton has conceded that the scrutiny is affecting the team. Second place in the constructors’ standings remains the team’s strongest argument, since it supports Hamilton’s claim that real progress has been made under Vasseur.
What comes next
Three questions now hang over Maranello. Ferrari must show whether its public backing of Vasseur is lasting or merely a pause in the noise. Observers will watch for any response from the executives Hamilton alluded to. And the team needs results that shift the conversation back to performance.
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For now, Vasseur retains Ferrari’s stated confidence and the public support of both drivers. How long that settles the matter will depend as much on lap times in the coming races as on statements.
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