Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s recent comments post the Brazilian Grand Prix have sparked a wave of reactions within the motorsport community. Former world champion Jenson Button did not hold back in his response to the team’s performance this season, leading to a heated debate among fans and pundits alike.
Elkann’s remarks, made in the aftermath of the São Paulo race weekend, highlighted the growing frustration within Ferrari’s upper management. While praising the team’s mechanics and engineers for their exceptional work, Elkann raised concerns about the performance and focus of other departments, including the drivers.
In a candid statement to Italian media, Elkann stated, “If we look at the F1 championship, we can say that on one hand we have our mechanics, who are basically winning the championship with their performance, particularly with everything they have been done on the pitstops.” He further added, “If we look at our engineers, there’s no doubt that the car has improved. If we look at the rest, it is not up to standard. And surely we have drivers for whom it is important that they focus on driving and talk less, because we still have important races ahead of us and it is not impossible to achieve a second place.”
Following Elkann’s public call for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to “talk less and focus on driving,” Jenson Button fired back with a pointed remark, suggesting that Elkann should lead by example. The exchange of words between the chairman and the former champion added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding Ferrari’s struggles this season.
The team endured another challenging race at Interlagos, with both Leclerc and Hamilton forced to retire due to early-race collisions. This disappointing result saw Ferrari slip from second to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 36 points and Red Bull by four, with only three rounds remaining in the season.
Elkann’s comments were perceived by many in the Italian media as a direct criticism of Hamilton, who has yet to achieve a podium finish in his debut season with Ferrari. The lack of a race win for the team this year has only added to the pressure on both drivers and management as they strive for better results in the remaining races.
In response to Elkann’s statement, both Hamilton and Leclerc took to social media to address the challenging weekend in São Paulo. Hamilton expressed his gratitude for the support from fans and vowed to continue pushing forward, while Leclerc acknowledged the team’s disappointing performance and emphasized the importance of unity in turning their season around.
As Ferrari looks ahead to the final races of the 2025 season, including the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the team remains determined to fight for a higher position in the Constructors’ standings. With the hope of securing a strong finish to a tumultuous campaign, Ferrari will need to regroup and work together to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
