Lewis Hamilton supported the owner of the Ferrari team, Fred Vasseur, and clearly indicated that the Frenchman was the reason why he was in the team. The attention of the F1 World has been drawn for the first time by an Italian publication report that the brand’s senior management is not satisfied with the performance of the team this season. If there were no quick improvements to the car, it could lead to the abolition of the director of the program team.
The report also indicated that Hamilton estimated that he was not listened to at Ferrari and at the same time, his teammate Charles Leclerc begins to lose the confidence that the team could fight for the titles. Rumors were further intensified when other Italian publications also corroborated the same development as Fred Vasseur was on thin ice and needed results from the next races.
The fact that Ferrari had a scheme to do something similar in the past with several team directors has also brought more credibility to these reports. Lewis Hamilton was asked about the reports of the position of Vasseur in danger at Ferrari to whom the 7x F1 champion reaffirmed that the reason he joined the team was the French.
Fred Vasseur was the boss of Hamilton when he made his way in the junior categories, and both go back to decades in terms of their relationship. Speaking to the media at the FIA press conference, Hamilton said:
“I had just informed it just before my arrival here, so I did not read the stories. It is certainly not pleasant, to hear that there are stories like that which are there. I love to work with Fred. Fred is the main reason that I am in this team and I had the opportunity to be here.”
The predecessor of Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari gives his point of view
Lewis Hamilton’s predecessor in Ferrari, Carlos Sainz also gave his point of view on the reports that Fred Vasseur is in danger of losing his job. He blamed the media and put it on the finger pointing exercise where as soon as the results go south, someone must be blamed. Sainz said (via Motorsportweek):
“Same story as always, when the results do not click in Ferrari, there are always tips by the media, and all this chaos occurs. For me, it is a question of focusing on the process and delivering when it is important.”
He added:
“But if you ask me, Fred, I have an excellent relationship with him. In the past, obviously, we went through a difficult month when he did not want me and signed Lewis, but other than that, we made peace on this subject, and I get well, and I have always evaluated it as a team director and as a person.”
We have not yet heard what Fred Vasseur has to say about it, but it will be interesting to see the type of swing of Lewis Hamilton while he supports the team’s boss.
Published by Luke Koshi
