Lewis Hamilton has strongly backed Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, saying the Frenchman remains the right person to lead the Formula 1 team despite growing speculation about his future.
Hamilton spoke ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after Ferrari publicly reaffirmed its confidence in Vasseur following renewed reports linking former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with the Ferrari job.
The seven-time world champion said Vasseur was a “fantastic leader” and had already helped Ferrari make significant progress. He pointed to the team's move to second in the Constructors' Championship as evidence of the work carried out under Vasseur.
.webp "Lewis Hamilton defends Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur and calls for wider leadership changes")
Hamilton also made clear that he does not believe replacing the team principal would solve Ferrari's problems. Instead, he suggested that changes to the wider leadership structure could be considered.
“There is a structure that's there for some time. Whether or not that needs looking at moving forwards, there are also people above Fred, and it's not about one person,” Hamilton said.
Vasseur serves as Ferrari's team principal and general manager, reporting to senior figures within the wider Ferrari organisation. Hamilton indicated that the structure differs from the model he experienced at Mercedes, where Toto Wolff holds several senior roles within the team.
Hamilton said he had already pushed for changes within Ferrari and that Vasseur had responded to several of his requests. However, he acknowledged that organisational changes take time and that more work remains.
The Briton also highlighted Ferrari's performance deficit, particularly its straight-line speed. He said the team can lose around four-tenths of a second, and sometimes six-tenths, because of its engine performance compared with rivals. Ferrari is working to address the issue for next season.
Hamilton's comments come after Ferrari's recent struggles increased scrutiny around the team. Ferrari has not won the Constructors' Championship since 2008, although it currently sits second in the 2026 standings, according to Reuters.
For now, Hamilton's message is clear: he wants Vasseur to remain in charge, while also believing that Ferrari should continue examining its wider organisational structure as it looks to challenge for championships in the future.