Lewis Hamilton has changed the emphasis of his criticism of Ferrari, defending team principal Frédéric Vasseur while continuing to call for significant changes within the organisation.
His latest comments suggest that the seven-time world champion does not believe replacing Vasseur would solve Ferrari’s problems, instead pointing towards the wider structure surrounding the team principal. With Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna also present at Sepang, attention is turning to who Hamilton believes should actually deliver the changes he wants.
Hamilton makes his position on Vasseur clear
Hamilton has reiterated that Vasseur is the right person to lead Ferrari and acknowledged that the Frenchman has already introduced several of the changes he previously requested. In Hamilton’s view, removing Vasseur would be counterproductive because Ferrari’s performance depends on a combination of personnel, expertise and decision-making rather than one individual.
That represents a notable shift from the pressure surrounding Ferrari following the post-Monza tensions.
One interpretation is that Hamilton has recognised that indirect pressure on Vasseur could ultimately undermine the very person he wants to work with. If every criticism of Ferrari’s organisation becomes a debate over the team principal’s future, the discussion risks weakening Vasseur rather than giving him the authority to make changes.
Christian Horner’s comments about Ferrari only intensified that speculation, prompting the Scuderia to reaffirm its confidence in Vasseur.
Who is Hamilton actually criticising?
Hamilton has continued to express frustration with the pressure being placed on Ferrari’s personnel while suggesting that responsibility also extends beyond Vasseur.
His comparison with Mercedes provides an important clue. Toto Wolff’s position is different from Vasseur’s, particularly because of Wolff’s ownership stake and influence within the Mercedes organisation.
Hamilton did not, however, specify precisely what changes he wants or who should implement them.
That makes it difficult to identify a specific target.
At first glance, Benedetto Vigna could appear to be an obvious candidate. Above Vasseur sit Ferrari’s CEO and chairman John Elkann, while Vasseur is also part of Ferrari’s Leadership Team (FLT), the executive committee supporting the CEO in operational management and the implementation of board decisions.
However, membership of the FLT does not make Vasseur subordinate to every other member of that committee in terms of Formula 1 operations.
The distinction is important. The FLT brings together executives responsible for different areas of Ferrari’s business. Its role as a corporate leadership body should not be confused with the sporting chain of command inside the Formula 1 team.
Hamilton could be asking for greater autonomy
The key question is therefore what changes Hamilton believes Vasseur needs the authority or resources to make.
If some of those changes require decisions at company level, Hamilton could effectively be calling for greater autonomy for the team principal rather than for his removal.
That remains an interpretation rather than an established fact because Hamilton has not publicly defined the changes he wants.
Vasseur’s own response appeared designed to prevent the discussion from becoming a search for individual blame.
“It’s a mistake to point the finger at something,” the Frenchman said, instead stressing the importance of collective work within Ferrari.
That position aligns with Hamilton’s apparent desire to retain Vasseur while changing elements of the system around him.
Vigna’s Sepang presence adds another layer
Against that backdrop, Vigna’s presence at Sepang is particularly interesting.
The Ferrari CEO, who was at Fuji last week with the team’s World Endurance Championship programme, is following qualifying at the Malaysian Grand Prix and will also be present for Sunday’s Formula 1 race.
His presence does not, by itself, indicate that Hamilton’s comments were directed at him. There is no evidence that Vigna has been singled out by Hamilton.
Nevertheless, the timing inevitably adds interest to a discussion about where Ferrari’s Formula 1 decision-making ultimately sits.
Hamilton appears to have maintained his ambition for meaningful organisational change while becoming clearer in his support for Vasseur. Those two positions are not necessarily contradictory.
Indeed, they could be connected: Hamilton may believe Ferrari needs to give Vasseur the structure, authority and resources required to implement the changes he wants.
That would make the question less about who should replace Vasseur and more about what Vasseur is currently able to change.
Vigna has not always provided convincing explanations when discussing Ferrari’s Formula 1 situation, but it is important to distinguish between confidence in Vasseur and criticism of the wider Ferrari system.
For now, Hamilton’s position appears clear on one point: he wants change, but he does not appear to want Vasseur removed.
The unanswered question is who he believes should make that change possible.
And with Vigna watching from Sepang, that question is likely to remain one of the most closely watched aspects of Ferrari’s weekend.
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
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