Hamilton denies seeking Ferrari staff changes after Italian media report

Hamilton's public denial

Lewis Hamilton said on September 17, 2026, that he has "never asked" for any Ferrari staff member to be replaced, addressing reports that the seven-time Formula 1 champion had pushed for changes to the team's trackside personnel. In an Instagram post alongside a photograph of himself with dozens of Ferrari staff members, Hamilton wrote that "everyone I work with works hard every day, and their dedication is what moves us forward," and stressed that "we all work together and that will continue." He added that he tries "to empower and lift people to be the best versions of themselves," acknowledging that he "may not always achieve that."

Origin of the reports

The denial followed a report published on September 15, 2026, by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, which said Hamilton had asked for changes to Ferrari's trackside staff and described his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur as strained. Motorsport.com's coverage identified the claims specifically as alleging that Hamilton was "pushing Ferrari to replace some of its on-track personnel," while racefans.net framed the original stories as asserting Hamilton had "requested staff changes" at the team. Hamilton's statement sought to preempt that narrative before further rounds of the season.

Recent on-track friction

Tensions between Hamilton and Ferrari's race-day operations have been visible across the 2026 season. Hamilton has questioned Ferrari's strategy over team radio at several races, including asking whether he was being used as a "guinea pig" at last month's Dutch Grand Prix and protesting that teammate Charles Leclerc was allowed to hold him up. After the Dutch round, Hamilton said his messages were driven by a desire to win and described it as "difficult" to watch rival Mercedes "execute straight away" on strategy decisions, according to reporting from the same week.

Standings and competitive context

Hamilton, who joined Ferrari ahead of the 2026 season, recorded his first win for the team at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June 2026. As of mid-September, he remained third in the drivers' championship, but a retirement at last week's Spanish Grand Prix left him 101 points behind standings leader Kimi Antonelli and extended a streak of five consecutive races without a podium finish. The championship gap frames the broader context in which the Italian media reports and Hamilton's denial have circulated.