Lewis Hamilton Says He 'Never Asked' For Ferrari Staff To Be Replaced, Defends Team’s Dedication Amid Strategy Tensions

Lewis Hamilton clarified on Thursday that he never requested any staff replacements at Ferrari and expressed admiration for their dedication despite tense radio exchanges about team strategy during recent Formula 1 races. This denial came after an Italian newspaper reported that Hamilton had asked for changes to Ferrari's trackside staff, suggesting a strained relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur.

Hamilton addressed the rumors on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself with several Ferrari personnel and stating, "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." He emphasized his commitment to empowering his team members to excel and added, "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." Hamilton has occasionally voiced concerns over Ferrari's strategy on the radio, including questioning whether he was being used as a "guinea pig" during the Dutch Grand Prix last month. He also protested that teammate Charles Leclerc was allowed to impede his progress. Following that race, Hamilton claimed the messages were driven by a desire to win and acknowledged it was "difficult" to observe rival team Mercedes executing their strategy decisions swiftly.

With this win, the seven-time champion secured his position as third in the standings, but a retirement in the Spanish Grand Prix left him 101 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. This also marked five consecutive races without a podium finish for Hamilton.