Lewis Hamilton strongly denies speculation around Fred Vasseur’s future, calling the Ferrari boss key to the team’s success.
Lewis Hamilton struck a firm tone during today’s press conference in Montreal when questioned about the rumours surrounding Fred Vasseur.
In Italy, as reported this afternoon, Corriere della Sera claims that the Frenchman has been called to account by his superiors.
The newspaper went even further, suggesting that Vasseur could be dismissed if results don’t improve quickly.
In Canada, Ferrari labelled such claims as “fantasy” before the seven-time world champion responded directly to the journalists.
“I was informed about it just before arriving, so I haven’t read the stories.”
“It’s really unpleasant to hear things like that. First of all, I love working with Fred. It’s thanks to him that I’m in this team and that I had the opportunity to be here, and I’m eternally grateful for that. And we’re in this together. We’re working hard behind the scenes.”
The Briton then added: “Everything’s not perfect, but for me, as I said, I’m here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred to be here. I’m convinced Fred is the person who will lead us to the top. That’s it. So the media attacks are absurd, what people have written.”
“Most people don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes. And everything isn’t simple. It’s not like everything’s running smoothly, that’s true. We need to make changes, and it’s a lot of work. And naturally, there’s a lot of pressure because we want to win.”
“But changing the team boss isn’t at the heart of the discussion right now. I don’t think it’s on the agenda, to my knowledge, and it’s certainly not an option I would support.”
“Integration, new recruits, new staff — whether drivers, engineers or management — take time to adapt, and the impact is significant. It’s not at the core of the discussions. I’m here to win with Fred, and he has my full support.”
“And to everyone suggesting I’m considering not racing anymore, let me be clear: I’ve just started my first year at Ferrari. So I’m here for several years, and for the long term. There is no doubt about my vision and what I want to achieve with this team. So there’s no doubt. So stop making things up.”
