F1, Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton’s John Elkann relationship raises Fred Vasseur authority question

Sky Sports commentator David Croft has questioned whether Lewis Hamilton's close connection with Ferrari chairman John Elkann undermines team principal Fred Vasseur's authority. Speaking on the F1 Show, Croft suggested that Elkann's hands-on corporate involvement complicates leadership dynamics and decision-making at Maranello. Ferrari recently convened the media following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to state that Vasseur continues to retain the full confidence of the team.

The leadership debate emerges amid a difficult 2026 campaign, with Ferrari trailing Mercedes by 160 points in the constructors' championship. Strains have surfaced over internal management, including Hamilton's post-Monza frustration regarding driver hierarchies alongside Charles Leclerc, which Vasseur declined to impose.