Lewis Hamilton has strongly responded to speculation suggesting he could be replaced mid-season due to his underwhelming start with Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season, calling the rumours “disrespectful” and “completely off the mark.”

The seven-time world champion’s debut campaign with the Scuderia has so far been plagued by inconsistency, with Hamilton currently sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings—a massive 68 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. His latest showing at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saw him finish a distant seventh, more than half a minute behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s first podium of the year.

Despite taking pole position and winning the sprint race in China, Hamilton’s full Grand Prix performances have fallen short of expectations, prompting whispers that Ferrari may consider replacing him if his form doesn’t improve. But Hamilton is having none of it.

“I’ve heard the noise — people saying Ferrari might drop me mid-season,” Hamilton said after the race in Jeddah. “That’s nonsense. I signed up for this challenge with full commitment, and the team is fully behind me. Anyone suggesting otherwise doesn’t understand how we operate.”

He admitted the early part of the season has been “painful,” but rejected the idea that the situation is anywhere near crisis point.

“Yes, this season has been tough. Painful, even. I’m not going to sugar-coat it. Jeddah was a horrible race for me, and the car hasn’t always felt like it’s mine. But I’ve been in this sport long enough to know that turning things around takes time, especially when you’re building something new.”

Hamilton emphasized that his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur and the crew at Ferrari remains strong.

“Fred’s been honest and supportive from day one. We knew there would be growing pains. People outside the garage don’t see the effort, the long nights, the work going into understanding every tenth of a second. But we do — and I’m not going anywhere.”

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur also defended Hamilton when questioned about his form, stating: “It’s not dramatic. We’ve done five races. I know people love headlines, but this is a long season, and Lewis brings more than just points — he brings data, development feedback, and leadership.”

Hamilton doubled down on that message, adding:

“This isn’t just about a bad few races. It’s about a journey. I didn’t join Ferrari to win in the first month. I came here to build something legendary — to help this team get back to the very top, even if it takes blood, sweat, and tears.”

“I know I’m being outperformed by Charles right now, and I give him credit — he’s driving brilliantly. But I’ve come back from worse. People forget that. I’ve had slumps before and ended those seasons with wins and pole positions. I believe in my ability, and I believe in this team.”

As the F1 calendar heads toward the European leg, Hamilton made one thing clear — he’s not backing down:

“You don’t get seven world titles by giving up when things get hard. I’ve got fight in me. And trust me, you’ll see that fight on the track.”

With a record of resilience behind him and a fire still burning, Lewis Hamilton has no plans to step aside — and he’s making sure the world knows it.