Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both voiced their support for Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur as speculation continues to link former Red Bull boss Christian Horner with the role.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Leclerc described Vasseur as “extremely valuable” to Ferrari, while Hamilton gave the Frenchman his “full backing”.
Leclerc said he has always trusted Vasseur and highlighted the strong relationship they have developed.
“I’ve always said how much I trust Fred and how important he is for the team. We have a very special relationship,” Leclerc said.
Hamilton was equally supportive, describing Vasseur as a “fantastic leader” and saying he is the right person to take Ferrari forward.
The comments come after Ferrari publicly reiterated its full confidence in Vasseur, amid reports surrounding Horner’s future.
The drivers also spoke about Ferrari’s current performance, with Hamilton admitting the team is losing time to its rivals in straight-line speed.
“We know that every weekend we carry a four-tenths deficit, if not sometimes six-tenths, just in straight-line power,” Hamilton said.
Leclerc added that Ferrari needs to improve in other areas too, including its chassis and aerodynamics, as rivals continue to introduce upgrades.
Ferrari will now look to improve its performance at this weekend’s race as the team continues its battle near the front of the Formula 1 field.
