Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s head, calls out an ‘irrational’ theory about Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
- An anonymous email claimed Mercedes favors George Russell over Lewis Hamilton, suggesting sabotage.
- Mercedes confirmed the email was fake, not from any team member, and has involved the police.
- The email alleges Russell got better treatment due to Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025.
- Both Mercedes and key figures, like James Allison and Vasseur, firmly deny these claims.
In a surprising twist, Fred Vasseur, the boss at Ferrari, has publicly criticized a theory regarding Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. This theory, shared through an anonymous email, accused Mercedes of sabotage against Hamilton, claiming the team favored his teammate George Russell instead. According to the email, this preferential treatment was a result of Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari in 2025, a claim both unfounded and strongly denied by those involved.
Mercedes swiftly responded, asserting that the email did not originate from within their ranks. The team principal, Toto Wolff, stated during a Barcelona press conference that the email was not sent by anyone at Mercedes and had already been reported to the police. The seriousness of the situation was underlined by Wolff’s mention of online abuse and the need to curb such behavior. “Online abuse in that way needs to stop,” he asserted, emphasizing the adoption of full measures, including tracing the email’s origin through its IP address.
Standing alongside Wolff during these revelations, Fred Vasseur, who enjoys a longstanding relationship with Hamilton, echoed similar sentiments. He remarked on the improbability of the allegations, asking rhetorically how a team of approximately 1,500 dedicated professionals could possibly engage in such actions. Vasseur found the suggestion that Mercedes would sabotage their own car’s chances ‘completely irrational,’ a sentiment largely shared across the paddock. “We are fighting for the championship,” Vasseur said, dismissing the irrational allegations with clear disbelief.
As the saga unfolded, Mercedes’ technical director, James Allison, also debunked the claims, calling them both ‘untrue and unfair.’ The email incident, now under police investigation, has sparked discussions about the extent people might go to undermine teams and drivers, particularly through anonymous online channels. Vasseur’s outright dismissal of these claims reinforces the broader consensus within Formula 1 – that such theories are baseless and counterproductive.
In conclusion, this unexpected turn of events underscores the challenges Formula 1 teams face in an era where misinformation can easily spread. Vasseur’s and Wolff’s responses highlight their commitment to protecting their teams and drivers from unwarranted attacks.
The supposed sabotage claims are dismissed as irrational, with investigations ongoing to find the email’s source.
