Lewis Hamilton Addresses Italian Media Rumours Over Staff Replacement
Lewis Hamilton has denied claims made by Italian media that he pushed Ferrari to replace key trackside staff. The report, published by Corriere della Sera, alleged that Hamilton wanted personnel changes and suggested his working relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur had grown strained. Hamilton addressed the story directly in a statement issued on social media.
The claims arrived at a sensitive point in Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari, as the team reshapes its trackside engineering group heading into 2026. Corriere della Sera’s account has not been confirmed by Ferrari, Hamilton or Vasseur.
Hamilton Clarifies Position in Statement Following Media Reports
Hamilton used his own channels to set the record straight rather than leave the reports unanswered. He said the story misrepresented how he works with the people around him at Ferrari.
“I’ve seen some of the stories that have gone out and I want to clear it up here.
“I’ve never asked for anyone on my team to be replaced. Everyone I work with works hard every day and their dedication is what moves us forward.
“I always try to empower and lift people to be the best versions of themselves or at least see the best in themselves.
“I may not always achieve that but it’s my intention and what I’m here to do. We all work together and that will continue.”
The statement gives a clear, on-the-record rebuttal of the Corriere della Sera report. Hamilton frames his approach as one built on support rather than pressure, and stresses that any changes within the team are collective decisions rather than demands from him personally.
Engineer Reorganisation and On-Track Friction During 2025 and 2026
Hamilton and Vasseur have a working relationship that stretches back two decades. The pair won the GP2 title together in 2006, long before either arrived at Ferrari, and that history has shaped how their current partnership is viewed by fans and media alike.
That does not mean the season has been without tension. Hamilton voiced frustration over team radio at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, unhappy at being held behind teammate Charles Leclerc. At Monza, he was clearly displeased after an opening-lap collision with Leclerc, saying afterwards that it was up to Vasseur to manage the situation between the two drivers.
Ferrari have also changed personnel around Hamilton heading into 2026. Carlo Santi and Cedric Grosjean have replaced Riccardo Adami as his race engineer, a shift in the engineering structure that sits alongside the wider staff speculation. The brief does not support any claim that Hamilton requested these changes himself, and the team has presented the move as part of its broader planning for next season, following on from his Ferrari breakthrough earlier in the season.
Championship Position and Focus Ahead of Next Round
On track, Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari has been a mixed one. He finished sixth in the 2025 drivers’ championship, 86 points behind fifth-placed Leclerc and without a podium finish across the campaign, a difficult return given the expectations that followed his move from Mercedes.
The 2026 season has shown signs of improvement. Hamilton claimed his maiden win for Ferrari at Barcelona in June, using a three-stop strategy to convert pace into a result after 14 rounds with the team. That victory remains a reference point for a partnership still finding its rhythm, and it has coincided with Hamilton spending time on his off-track activities in Maranello alongside his racing commitments.
Hamilton currently sits third in the drivers’ standings, 101 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. With that gap in mind, Ferrari’s focus now turns to closing the distance to the front while the engineering group settles into its new shape for 2026. Further detail on Hamilton’s comments and the surrounding reports is available in the Motorsport.com report on Hamilton’s statement.
