Hamilton denies staff changes: "Never asked for it"

Lewis Hamilton clarified on Thursday that he had "never asked" for staff changes at Ferrari.

Following tense radio communications regarding team strategy in recent Formula 1 races, he praised the crew's dedication.

Hamilton's denial follows a report in the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera" on Tuesday, which claimed Hamilton had demanded changes to Ferrari's trackside personnel and that his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur was strained.

Clear Statement

"I've seen some of the stories published and I want to make it clear here. I have never asked anyone in my team to be replaced. Everyone I work with works hard every day, and their dedication is what drives us forward," Hamilton wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with dozens of Ferrari employees.

"I always try to empower and uplift people to be the best version of themselves, or at least see the best in themselves. I may not always succeed, but that is my intention and what I am here for. We all work together and that will continue to be the case."

Radio Criticism

Hamilton has occasionally questioned Ferrari's strategy over the radio this year. For instance, at the Dutch Grand Prix last month, he asked if he was being used as a "guinea pig" and protested that teammate Charles Leclerc was being allowed to hold him up.

After that race, he explained that the comments were born out of a desire to win, and that it was "difficult" to see rival team Mercedes "implementing strategy decisions immediately".

Victory in Barcelona

The seven-time world champion celebrated his first victory for Ferrari at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in June and remains in third place in the overall standings.

However, a retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix last week has dropped him 101 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. For Hamilton, this also marked the fifth consecutive race without a podium finish.