Lewis Hamilton is reportedly becoming increasingly frustrated at Ferrari, with fresh claims suggesting that his concerns extend beyond the team’s recent lack of competitiveness to his relationship with Frédéric Vasseur and decisions perceived as favouring Charles Leclerc.
The latest picture has been outlined by Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi following a difficult Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend for the Maranello team. Terruzzi has interpreted Hamilton’s behaviour in Baku as evidence of growing dissatisfaction, although neither the seven-time world champion nor Ferrari has publicly confirmed the alleged internal tensions.
Lewis Hamilton frustration reportedly extends beyond Ferrari results
Terruzzi focused particularly on Hamilton’s attitude towards the media during the Baku weekend. He compared the British driver’s reluctance to engage at length with reporters to the famously reserved approach of Kimi Räikkönen during his Formula 1 career, viewing the change in Hamilton’s behaviour as a sign that something was troubling him.
The issue, according to that interpretation, is not limited to Ferrari’s recent results. Attention has also turned to the relationship between Hamilton and team principal Frédéric Vasseur, as well as the way certain decisions involving Charles Leclerc are perceived internally.
Terruzzi believes part of Hamilton’s frustration comes from the feeling that Vasseur is too closely aligned with Leclerc. That alleged dynamic is particularly notable because Hamilton remains ahead of his team-mate in the 2026 drivers’ standings despite Ferrari’s recent difficulties. The wider relationship between the British driver and team principal has already been the subject of scrutiny, with Lewis Hamilton and Frédéric Vasseur appearing increasingly out of sync during several recent race weekends.
Hamilton still leads Charles Leclerc in the championship
The competitive picture has changed significantly over the past four races. Hamilton entered the latter part of the season sitting second in the championship and relatively close to leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but that gap has since increased to 103 points.
Ferrari endured another difficult race in Azerbaijan, where Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Hamilton came home sixth. The seven-time world champion subsequently asked the team to investigate why the SF-26 had lacked sufficient competitiveness during the race.
Hamilton currently occupies third place in the championship with 199 points, while Leclerc sits fifth on 179. Their respective seasons and latest developments can be followed through the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari news archive and the Charles Leclerc Ferrari news archive.
Some within Ferrari reportedly disagree with Hamilton
Terruzzi’s account also points to a more complicated internal situation than a straightforward dispute between Hamilton and Leclerc. According to the report, not everyone inside Ferrari agrees with Hamilton’s criticisms.
There is reportedly acknowledgement that mistakes have been made on Hamilton’s side of the garage, but some within the team also believe the British driver has at times placed excessive responsibility on engineers when his own actions contributed to an underwhelming result.
That creates another layer of tension for a Ferrari organisation already navigating a delicate stage of its season. Questions have continued to surround Vasseur’s future, while recent comments involving Christian Horner have added further attention to the team principal position and Ferrari’s longer-term management structure.
Previous Ferrari tension claims were denied by Hamilton
The latest claims also come with an important precedent. Earlier in the season, reports suggested that Hamilton had requested personnel changes within his Ferrari pit crew. Hamilton publicly rejected those suggestions on Instagram, explaining that he had never asked for anyone in his team to be replaced and stressing the commitment of the people working alongside him.
That previous denial means the latest speculation around internal relationships should be distinguished from confirmed developments. Terruzzi’s assessment remains an interpretation of Hamilton’s behaviour and of the atmosphere surrounding Ferrari rather than a publicly confirmed account from Hamilton, Vasseur or the team.
Ferrari has not publicly addressed the latest allegations concerning Hamilton, Vasseur and Leclerc. What is clear after Baku is that the Italian side needs to recover competitiveness while scrutiny continues to build around its drivers, management and internal dynamics.
Leave a Reply