Leclerc backs Vasseur and calls Ferrari rumours disrespectful

RacingNews365 English reported on 1 October that Ferrari had expressed confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur to selected media earlier in the week, amid rumours about his position. Hamilton called Vasseur a strong leader and said he was the right person to guide the team.

Hamilton argued that mistakes draw a much harsher reaction when Ferrari makes them, describing the criticism as “10 times worse” because of the team’s profile. He credited Vasseur with helping Ferrari reach second place in the constructors’ championship, which he called a substantial improvement on the previous year.

Hamilton also estimated that Ferrari was losing four tenths of a second, and sometimes six, through straight-line power each weekend. He said the team was working to address that deficit for next year.

Despite his support for Vasseur, Hamilton suggested Ferrari might need to examine its long-standing structure. He noted that people sit above the team principal and said the team’s difficulties were not down to one person.

Update

Leclerc said he has long trusted Vasseur and considers him important to Ferrari. He drew a distinction between criticism, which he accepts as part of the job, and the repeated circulation of rumours, which he called disrespectful. His remarks were reported by RacingNews365 Nederland on 1 October.

Leclerc said it was difficult to judge how much the speculation affects Ferrari, but he believed it was doing the team no good.

RacingNews365 Nederland also reports that Ferrari has issued a statement expressing full confidence in Vasseur.