Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has dismissed suggestions that Lewis Hamilton’s switch to a new race engineer for the 2026 Formula 1 season could hinder the seven‑time world champion’s integration into the team.
Speaking during pre‑season testing in Bahrain, Vasseur made it clear that the situation has been overstated and does not reflect the internal reality at Maranello.
Reports had suggested that Hamilton viewed the timing of the change as “detrimental,” but Vasseur pushed back firmly, insisting the narrative is misplaced.
“It’s not exactly the discussion that we have,” Vasseur said. “I think the collaboration between the team and Lewis and the pit wall is very good.”
He stressed that personnel changes are a normal part of Formula 1 and should not be treated as a crisis.
“Please stop with this story,” he urged. “You have 22 cars in the paddock. You have about six or seven new engineers each year, and the same with team principals. I’m probably the oldest one with Toto. You change three, four team principals each year, and it’s not the end of the team.”
Vasseur emphasised that modern F1 operations are far too large and complex for a single role to define performance.
“A team today is something like 1,500 people,” he said. “It’s not about one race engineer. The guy you see on the pit wall is leading a team of many people working on the car. And it’s not a matter of an individual. F1 is always about the team. It’s never about an individual.”
Despite the external noise, Vasseur said Hamilton has shown exactly the attitude Ferrari hoped for as he begins his first season with the Scuderia.
“I saw Lewis — it’s not that he was not committed, but he was confident and very open to the relationship,” Vasseur explained. “My feeling is very positive about this.”
He added that Hamilton’s approach has been constructive and forward‑looking: “The mindset is to try to do a better job tomorrow than today.
“If we have areas where we can improve, we will continue to push in this direction. But Lewis was in a very good mindset on this one,” concluded Vasseur.
Strong testing pace reinforces Ferrari’s confidence
Hamilton ended the first week of pre‑season testing with the third‑fastest time, a result that Vasseur believes reflects both the car’s potential and Hamilton’s adaptability.
The Frenchman described Hamilton’s early feedback as “sharp, detailed, and immediately useful,” noting that the British driver has already begun influencing development directions.
Vasseur closed by reiterating that the team is focused on performance rather than speculation: “We will continue to improve,” he said. “The focus is on teamwork and building the strongest possible foundation for the season.”