Lewis Hamilton adamant that Fred Vasseur will lead Ferrari to F1 glory
Despite sitting second in the constructors' championship, Ferrari has made an indifferent start to the season and currently sits 197 points behind leaders McLaren.
Vasseur's position in the team has been subjected to scrutiny, but seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari last winter, is adamant that he is the 'person to take us to the top'.
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Speaking ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton said: 'It's definitely not nice to hear that there are stories like that that are out there. Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for. And we're in this together. We're working hard in the background.
'Things aren't perfect, but for me, as I said, I'm here to work with the team, but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top. And so that's that.
'It's ultimately nonsense what people have written. Most people don't know what's going on in the background. It isn't all easy. It's not like it's all the smoothest sailing in the background.
'We are having to make changes, and it's a lot of work to do. And there is naturally a lot of pressure because we want to win. But that's not any part of the discussion at the moment.'
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Hamilton was asked a second time about the logic in replacing Vasseur, while he also addresses speculation about his own future in the team.
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Hamilton doubled down on his support for Vasseur and insists that he is in for the 'long haul' with Ferrari.
He added: 'It takes time to adjust, and the impact that has is significant, so yes, that's not part of the discussion.
'I'm here to win with Fred, and he has my full support, and then also to all the others, everyone that's writing stories of me considering not racing, and I mean, I literally only just started firstly here with Ferrari.
'I'm here for several years, and I'm here for the long haul, so there is no question about where my head's at and what I'm working towards achieving with this team, so there are zero doubts, so please stop making up stuff.'
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Hamilton finds himself in sixth place in the drivers' championship and is hoping that this weekend's race in Montreal delivers an uptick in results and he adjusts to working with his new team.
He said: 'It [the situation in the team] looks a lot worse outside than it probably is on the inside. Even just coming from engineering now, how they set the car up compared to any other year that I've been here, it's completely different.
'There's a certain way they like to work. To say, 'hold on a second, that doesn't actually make sense'.
'So getting those things, consistently working with the team and making sure you're working in a constructive way to make changes.'
Photos from Canadian Grand Prix - Thursday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Alex Albon, Williams
Alex Albon, Williams
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Alex Albon, Williams
Alex Albon, Williams
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari
Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Laurent Mekies, RB F1 Team
Laurent Mekies, RB F1 Team
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Racing
Andy Cowell, Aston Martin Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari
Zhou Guanyu, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Andy Stevenson, Sporting Director at Aston Martin F1 Team
Andy Stevenson, Sporting Director at Aston Martin F1 Team
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
James Sutton / Motorsport Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
James Sutton / Motorsport Images
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, Williams
James Sutton / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
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