Hamilton Calls for Ferrari Hierarchy Changes, Backs Vasseur Amid Horner Speculation

Lewis Hamilton has issued a cryptic demand for changes to Ferrari's hierarchy, while simultaneously expressing his support for under-fire team principal Fred Vasseur. The seven-time world champion's comments come amid speculation that former Red Bull boss Christian Horner could potentially take over the leadership role at the iconic Italian Formula 1 team.

Hamilton, who joined Ferrari last season on a reported £80 million per year contract in pursuit of his eighth world title, did not elaborate on the specific structural changes he believes are necessary. However, his remarks suggest a desire for alterations beyond the current leadership.

"There are changes that I would make, but I am not going to talk about what those are," Hamilton stated. "Toto (Wolff) is in a different position (at Mercedes) to Fred. The structure is a lot different."

He emphasized the importance of a cohesive organizational structure, stating, "Structure is very important and so is stability and everyone rowing in the same direction is key in any business."

Despite his call for broader structural review, Hamilton reiterated his confidence in Vasseur. "Fred has my full backing," he said. "Fred is a fantastic leader, and he is really is the guy to take this team in the right direction."

Hamilton acknowledged that Vasseur works under chairman John Elkann and chief executive Benedetto Vigna, but declined to specify if his comments were directed at them. He noted that "there are people above Fred, and it is not about one person."

Ferrari's communications director, Maria Conti, had previously issued a vote of confidence in Vasseur following Horner's public expression of respect for the team. Vasseur, who joined Ferrari in 2023, has yet to deliver a championship title. A significant setback for his tenure was an incident at the Italian Grand Prix in September, where Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc collided.

Hamilton pointed to the team's performance deficit in engine power as a key area for improvement, stating, "We lose four to six tenths on the straights because of power. They are aware of that and they are working extremely hard to fix that."

He also expressed frustration with the intense scrutiny Ferrari faces. "You see other teams making mistakes and no-one says too much about it. We make the same mistakes and are not perfect – and we know we are not – but it is 10 times worse for some reason for Ferrari. But that is also to be expected because it is the best brand here and the most iconic by far."

Hamilton is currently second in the drivers' championship, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 103 points with eight races remaining. The team's performance has seen them secure second place in the constructors' championship, an improvement from the previous year, though the power deficit remains a significant challenge.

The Grand Prix of Malaysia, held at the Sepang circuit, was moved up in the schedule due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This development comes after an unprecedented media call on Tuesday where Conti addressed Vasseur's position.