Hamilton stands by Ferrari as Italian media turns on Vasseur
Lewis Hamilton has come out swinging against the Italian press, shutting down speculation that Ferrari is about to sack team principal Fred Vasseur and that he himself is already questioning his future in red. Speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton called the reports “nonsense” and urged journalists to “stop making stuff up.”
The backlash in Italy has been building for weeks. After nine races, Ferrari sits 197 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc still winless while McLaren’s drivers lead the standings. For a team that entered 2026 with title ambitions after a strong second half to 2025, the gap has stung. Italian outlets have pinned much of the blame on Vasseur, suggesting his position is under serious threat if results don’t turn around fast.
Hamilton isn’t having it. He made it clear that Vasseur was the main reason he joined Ferrari in the first place.
“Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred’s the main reason I’m in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, for which I’m forever grateful, and we’re in this together,” Hamilton said. He added that he wants Vasseur to stay and believes he’s the right person to take Ferrari back to the top. 764f
The timing of his comments matters. Canada is a track where Hamilton has won seven times, matching Michael Schumacher’s record. It’s also where Ferrari’s weaknesses are usually exposed — straight-line speed and low downforce setups have been a problem for years. Yet Hamilton arrived in Montreal with a more positive tone, saying the team was working hard behind the scenes and that people outside don’t see the full picture. ef7c
He didn’t deny the pressure. “Most people don’t know what is going on in the background, and it isn’t all easy,” he admitted. “We are having to make changes, it’s a lot of work to do, and there is naturally a lot of pressure because we want to win”. But he drew a line at blaming Vasseur. “This, ultimately, is nonsense what people have written,” he said. ef7c764f
The contrast with the Italian media’s mood is stark. Veteran journalist Leo Turrini wrote in _Quotidiano_ that Ferrari is “fading into the background” at a time when F1 has never been more popular, calling the situation “a terrible sign”. _La Gazzetta dello Sport_ noted that Hamilton was enduring an 18-race podium drought, one of the longest in his career, while Ferrari’s own winless run was approaching 22 races. f771
Even Vasseur has admitted Ferrari has slipped back. Speaking to _Blick_, he said the team is “suddenly one step behind our rivals” and that “the sources of error are piling up, so we have to improve everywhere”. Leclerc has echoed the frustration, saying both he and Hamilton feel like “passengers” at the moment because they can’t extract more from the car. f771
Hamilton’s public defense of Vasseur does more than just quell rumors. It signals where his loyalty lies and puts pressure back on the media to focus on the long-term project rather than short-term panic. He’s repeatedly said he’s in it for “several years” and that there are “zero doubts” about his commitment. 764f
The dynamic is familiar in Maranello. Ferrari’s history is littered with moments where external pressure has clashed with internal stability. Hamilton’s stance suggests he’s trying to shield the team from that cycle, arguing that real progress happens away from the headlines. Whether that stability translates into results will be the real test, but for now, he’s made it clear: he’s not walking away, and he’s not letting Vasseur walk either.