Lewis Hamilton insisted he will be in Formula One for several years as he moved to defend the disappointing start to his Ferrari career. Hamilton described the recent Spanish Grand Prix – where he was ordered by Ferrari to move aside for teammate Charles Leclerc and was then passed by Sauber driver Nico Hülkenberg in the closing laps – as one of the worst races he has ever experienced.
Hamilton is 23 points behind Leclerc, and 115 adrift of the championship leader, Oscar Piastri, before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. But speaking on the eve of the race in Montreal, the 40-year-old, who is in the first of a two-season deal withFerrari, said: “I have literally only just started with this team. I am here for several years and I am in it for the long haul.
“There is no question as to where my head is at, and what I want to achieve with his team. There are zero doubts so please stop making up [reports about his future].”
Since his blockbuster move from Mercedes, Hamilton won the sprint round in China in March, but his record in the main events so far for Ferrari reads 10th, disqualified, seventh, fifth, seventh, eighth, fourth, fifth and sixth. Ferrari are already 197 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings with reports in Italy claiming Fred Vasseur’s position as team principal is under threat.
But Hamilton said: “I don’t think that is on the cards as far as I am aware and I certainly would not be supportive of that. Firstly, I love working with Fred. He is the main reason I am in this team, and I got the opportunity to be here because of Fred which I am forever grateful for.
“We are in this together, and things are not perfect. I am here to work with the team but also Fred. I want Fred here and I believe he is the person to take us to the top.
“Most people don’t know what is going on in the background. It is not easy, we are having to make changes, there is a lot of work to do, and there is pressure because we want to win, but that [Vasseur leaving] is not a discussion at the moment. I am here to win with Fred and he has my full support.”