Hamilton denies reports of demanding Ferrari staff changes

Lewis Hamilton has publicly denied Italian media reports that he demanded Ferrari staff replacements, stating he has never asked for anyone on his team to be replaced. The seven-time world champion addressed the claims in an Instagram story on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following a report by Corriere della Sera that he had pushed for changes to Ferrari's trackside operations. Hamilton wrote, "I've seen some of the stories that have gone out and I want to clear it up here. I've never asked for anyone on my team to be replaced." He added that everyone he works with is dedicated and that his role is to empower them. The statement was accompanied by a photograph of himself with Ferrari personnel. The denial comes during a difficult period for Ferrari and Hamilton's championship campaign. He trails Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 101 points with nine races remaining in the 2026 season, having collected just eight points from the last two Grands Prix. His title hopes suffered a major setback at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid on September 14, where a brake failure forced him to retire early.