Overview
- Ferrari formally reiterated its "full confidence" in team principal Fred Vasseur on Thursday as the team moved to quash growing speculation about his job.
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc gave strong, public endorsements of Vasseur, with Hamilton saying he gives the team boss his "full backing" and Leclerc calling him "extremely valuable."
- Rumours were fuelled earlier this week when former Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he would consider joining Ferrari without seeking an ownership stake, prompting media speculation about a leadership change.
- Both drivers acknowledged a clear on-track deficit, with Hamilton saying Ferrari carries about a 0.4 to 0.6 second straight-line engine gap per lap and Leclerc adding that chassis and aero shortfalls have left the team vulnerable to rivals' upgrades.
- The focus has begun to shift from replacing one person to examining the structure above Vasseur, and Ferrari's next factory updates and race results will be watched for signs of a technical or organisational turnaround.