Lewis Hamilton has publicly addressed circulating rumors that he has been urging Ferrari to make internal adjustments following a challenging pair of weekends at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The seven‑time world champion, who currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 101 points with nine races remaining, used his Instagram account on Thursday to set the record straight.
In the latest two events Hamilton has only managed to collect eight points, a stark contrast to his usual podium‑contending performances. At Monza, Ferrari introduced an upgraded power unit for their home race, yet Hamilton could manage only a sixth‑place finish while his teammate Charles Leclerc retired after a crash.
The following weekend in Madrid, a brake failure forced Hamilton out of the race, marking his first retirement of the season. Italian media outlets subsequently reported that Hamilton had been pressing team principal Frederic Vasseur to implement operational changes within the Scuderia.
The reports suggested that the champion was dissatisfied with the way the team was running its cars and that he might even be considering personnel replacements. Hamilton quickly dismissed these stories, posting a detailed statement on Instagram. He wrote, "I've seen some of the stories that have gone out and I want to clear it up here. 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 continued, "I always try to empower and lift people to be the best versions of themselves or at least see the best in themselves. 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." By emphasizing his commitment to teamwork and respect for his colleagues, Hamilton aimed to quell any speculation that he was sowing discord within Ferrari. The tension between Hamilton and Ferrari dates back to the opening lap of the Italian Grand Prix, when a collision with Leclerc sent Hamilton wide into the gravel trap. After the incident, Hamilton called for clearer "rules of engagement" between teammates, suggesting that the responsibility for the mishap rested with team principal Vasseur. Ferrari later held a meeting with both drivers, during which Leclerc admitted fault for the incident.
This episode added fuel to the narrative that Hamilton was unhappy with the way the team managed driver interactions. Beyond the on‑track drama, Hamilton’s championship hopes have taken a serious hit.
Prior to the summer break, he was still in contention for a historic eighth world title, but a string of five races without a podium finish has dramatically reduced those odds. The lack of points has allowed Antonelli and his Mercedes squad to build a comfortable lead, a situation Hamilton acknowledged when speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Spanish Grand Prix. "I think there's no stopping him (Antonelli) and Mercedes this year," Hamilton said. "They've done a phenomenal job and they deserve it." Despite the setbacks, Hamilton remains focused on the remaining races, including the upcoming triple‑header in Azerbaijan, where the Grand Prix will be held on a Saturday for the first time this season.
He stressed that his priority is to keep working with his team, improve the car’s performance, and extract the maximum possible points in each remaining event. In summary, Hamilton’s Instagram post clarified that he has not called for any staff changes at Ferrari and that he continues to value the hard work of everyone involved with the team. While the recent incidents at Monza and Madrid have certainly strained relations and added pressure to an already difficult championship battle, Hamilton’s message was clear: his focus remains on collaboration, mutual respect, and doing everything he can to fight for every point until the season’s end.