Lewis Hamilton slates Ferrari quit rumours and Fred Vasseur axe gossip

Lewis Hamilton has described as "nonsense" the speculation that Ferrari is primed to axe team principal Fred Vasseur, and that he is already considering quitting the Scuderia.

Italian media has suggested Vasseur could be shown the exit door if results fail to improve following a tough start to a season when it was fully expected to go toe-to-toe with McLaren for this year's championships.

Instead, Ferrari is a staggering 197 points shy of McLaren in the constructors' standings, whilst Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are a long way adrift of McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the drivers' title fight.

Given the gloomy picture for the Scuderia, that has prompted Italy's leading newspapers to suggest Vasseur's position is under serious threat.

Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton, who has made clear that joining forces with Vasseur was one of the reasons he opted to join Ferrari and end his long association with Mercedes, has given the rumour-mongers short shrift.

"I was just made aware of it [the speculation] just before I got here, so I've not read the stories," said Hamilton, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, in Montreal ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. "It's definitely not nice to hear that there are stories like that out there.

"Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, for which I'm forever grateful, and we're in this together.

"We're working hard in the background. Things aren't perfect, but for me, as I've said, I'm here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top.

"So this, ultimately, is nonsense what people have written.

"Most people don't know what's going on in the background and it isn't all easy. It's not like all smooth sailing. We are having to make changes, and there's a lot of work to do.

"There is naturally a lot of pressure because we want to win, but that's not any part of the discussion at the moment." 

Asked how foolish it would be for Ferrari to dismiss Vasseur, Hamilton added: "Again, I don't think that's on the cards, as far as I'm aware, and that's certainly not something I would be supportive of.

"Embedding new people, new personnel, whether it's a driver, or whether it's engineers or people who run an organisation, it takes time to adjust, and the impact that has is significant.

"So that's not part of the discussion. I'm here to win with Fred, and he has my full support."

Hamilton reserved his final condemnation for those who have suggested he could retire in light of the struggles he has experienced with the team.

The 40-year-old has failed to score a grand prix podium, with his best result in a sprint when he won in China.

"And then also, to everyone that's writing stories of me considering not racing, I've literally only just started with Ferrari," insisted Hamilton.

"I'm here for several years. I'm here for the long haul, so there is no question about where my head's at and what I'm working towards achieving with this team. There are zero doubts, so please stop making up stuff."