Lewis Hamilton slams 'not helpful' Christian Horner rumours with defiant Ferrari message

Lewis Hamilton has said rumours linking Christian Horner with a future move to Ferrari are "Not helpful" to the team's quest for more performance. The Brit is trying to help his Italian squad to return to contention for race wins amid a difficult maiden season for the seven-time World champion since making the move from Mercedes.

He has given his public backing to Frederic Vasseur before, as did Ferrari only a few months ago when they handed the Frenchman a new multi-year contract. But this week there has been media speculation that Ferrari could look to replace him as team principal with Horner, who is now a free agent for 2026 since negotiating the terms of his Red Bull exit.

Asked about that speculation in Austin on Thursday, ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Hamilton made it clear he believes stability is the best way forward. "I don't know where the rumours have come from, so I can't really shed much light on that," he said of the Horner claims.

But he added: "It's a little bit distracting for us as a team. The team have made it clear where they stand by re-signing Fred. Fred and the whole team are working really hard on the future of the team. These things, naturally, are not helpful, but I know everyone at the factory is working hard and is really focused.

"These rumours can sometimes be really distracting, but for me it's about trying to keep the focus on the goal in front of us and building on next year's car, continuing to build a foundation on this year so that, next year, we can have better execution and better overall performance. I'm having lots of meeting to make sure that we're staying in the right direction."

Hamilton is sixth in the drivers' championship and has yet to make it onto the podium in a Grand Prix for Ferrari. If he fails to do so again in Austin this weekend, he will hold the record for the most races without a top-three finish at the start of a stint with the Scuderia in the team's entire F1 history.

But Hamilton is far from the problem at Ferrari. While his team-mate Charles Leclerc has been able to do more, standing on the podium five teams this year and amassing 48 points more than the Brit, he too has not won all year and the famous red marque is the only one of the top four outfits yet to win a Grand Prix in 2025. McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes all have multiple victories to show for their efforts.

For some time now, the focus at Ferrari has been on their 2026 car. Hamilton, who turns 41 in January, hopes the team can take the opportunity provided by the new regulations to push themselves back into contention for the title. If that is not the case, then next season could prove to be his last in F1 with his current deal set to expire, though there is understood to be an option for 2027 which he can trigger if he feels he has more to give.