F1, Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton vs. Frederic Vasseur? The driver speaks out

Things aren’t looking good at Ferrari: on top of the disappointments at the Madrid Grand Prix, there are now rumors of alleged friction between Lewis Hamilton and Frederic Vasseur. According to the rumors, the relationship between the driver and the team principal has deteriorated to the point of convincing the Briton to request Vasseur’s replacement.

However, in an Instagram post, Lewis Hamilton addressed the issue head-on: “I’ve seen some of the news that’s been circulating, and I want to set the record straight. I have never asked for any member of my team to be replaced. Everyone I work with works hard every day, and their dedication is what keeps us moving forward.”

“I always try to empower people and help them be the best version of themselves—or at least see the best in themselves. Maybe I don’t always succeed, but that’s my intention, and that’s what I’m here to do. We’re all working together, and we’ll continue to do so,” said the Briton in an effort to dispel the rumors.

After qualifying for the Madrid Grand Prix, Vasseur had been particularly harsh toward Hamilton: “Obviously, when you’re in first place after the first lap, you start thinking about pole position. But Hamilton made a mistake right away in Turn 1 and Turn 2, and that cost him a tenth of a second. When you start the lap under those circumstances, it’s difficult.”

The former Mercedes driver, however, retorted in no uncertain terms: “Clearly, we weren’t in pole position territory, even when we were in the lead. Maybe our rivals pushed the engine harder in the final stages, or maybe they have something we don’t, and we can’t do any better than this. We have an extra set of tires for the race, but it’s not really much of an advantage because, in the end, things even out.”