Full Breakdown
Hamilton Defends Vasseur While Calling for Structural Review at Ferrari
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton publicly reaffirmed his support for Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur and suggested that the broader management structure above Vasseur could be examined. Hamilton’s comments came as Ferrari issued a statement confirming “full confidence” in Vasseur amid renewed speculation sparked by former Red Bull chief Christian Horner expressing interest in the role.
Background & Context
Ferrari entered the 2026 season with a chassis that was initially praised as the strongest on the grid, but the car’s power-unit has lagged behind rivals, leaving the Scuderia 160 points behind championship-leading Mercedes and 72 points adrift of McLaren in the constructors’ standings. The team’s performance dip has intensified scrutiny of Vasseur, who signed a multi-year contract in July 2025. Horner’s interview with *The Times*—in which he called a Ferrari seat “the dream” without seeking an ownership stake—revived rumours about a possible leadership change.
Data & Statistics
- Ferrari sit second in the constructors’ championship after 15 of 23 races, trailing Mercedes by 160 points.
- In the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc finished fourth while Hamilton placed sixth, underscoring the performance gap.
Official Statements & Responses
The statement emphasized unity and warned that external speculation could distract the garage.
Vasseur himself acknowledged the pressure, saying the team and that “each interview, 25 times a day, we are coming back to this” speculation, but he pledged to focus on pushing the team forward.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think Fred has the full backing,” — Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
- “Fred is a fantastic leader. He really is the guy to take this team in the right direction. However, 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.” — Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
- “There are changes that I would make but I'm not going to talk about what those are.” — Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
- “The deficit we have is simply just on engine,” — Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
Why It Matters
Hamilton’s endorsement highlights internal confidence in Vasseur while drawing attention to the need for structural clarity at Ferrari. The team’s ability to address its engine deficit and streamline decision-making could determine whether it can close the sizable points gap to Mercedes and mount a credible challenge for the championship.
What’s Next
Ferrari will debut its updated SF-26 package at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the next scheduled race weekend running from October 2 to October 4 at Sepang. The outcome will indicate whether the team’s technical improvements can offset the power shortfall and whether any structural adjustments are forthcoming.