That said, Formula 1 gossip machines never truly sleep, do they? Ferrari's lack of podiums over the last five rounds managed to fuel wild speculation about Fred Vasseur’s future as Team Principal of the Scuderia. The noise got loud enough—helped along by comments from former Red Bull boss Christian Horner calling the team his "dream" destination—that Ferrari actually had to step in. The outfit gathered selected media and explicitly shared their "full confidence" in Vasseur, declaring that the team must stay united and focused.
Well, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc aren't having any of it. Speaking at the Sepang International Circuit ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Hamilton did not hold back about the outside chatter. "Honestly, I think outside sources seem to be so negative towards us as a team and trying to break our spirit, but they're not succeeding," he said, defending Vasseur as the right man to lead them and pointing out that stability is infinitely better than the constant merry-go-round of past management swaps.
For whatever reason, every three or four years there are those crazy rumours around the team,
Hamilton also offered a sharp reality check on their actual on-track performance. Despite lingering issues—including a clash with Charles Leclerc in Monza and unfortunate brake problems in Madrid—the team is currently second in the Constructors' Championship. And get this: they are managing that massive improvement over last year while carrying a power deficit averaging four tenths every single weekend, sometimes stretching to six. "If you want to point fingers, point them somewhere else," Hamilton urged, adding that outsiders commenting on the situation "have absolutely no clue what they're talking about ultimately."
Charles Leclerc, who has worked under Vasseur since he replaced Mattia Binotto for the 2023 season, echoed his teammate's frustration with the cycle of instability. Having spent quite a few years with the squad, Leclerc admitted he is sadly getting used to these periodic storms. "For whatever reason, every three or four years there are those crazy rumours around the team," Leclerc noted, calling the opportunistic speculation disrespectful to everyone grafting away behind the scenes. He made it clear that his backing of Vasseur goes beyond personal rapport, praising the Frenchman's exceptional capabilities.
So, the message from the garage is crystal clear. Vasseur isn't going anywhere, Hamilton is locked in to stay right beside him, and the drivers are rallying the troops to block out the noise. Whether that united front can quiet the paddock entirely depends on the stopwatch, but for now, the Scuderia is standing shoulder to shoulder.
