Elkann slams Ferrari's drivers: ‘Talk less and focus on driving!'

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has delivered a scathing verdict on the team’s disastrous São Paulo Grand Prix weekend, insisting that drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton must “focus on driving and talk less” after the Scuderia’s double DNF at Interlagos.

The public rebuke followed one of Ferrari’s most disastrous displays of the season, which saw the Maranello squad tumble from second to fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Heading into last weekend’s event, Ferrari had hoped to tighten its grip on the runner-up spot, but the weekend unraveled fast.

Leclerc started from a promising P3 on the grid only to be wiped out after a clash involving Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri, while Hamilton’s race ended early due to damage sustained in an opening lap contact with Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto.

It marked Ferrari’s first pointless weekend in months – and one that clearly tested Elkann’s patience.

As Ferrari’s chairman suggested, the Scuderia’s setback came in stark contrast to the manufacturer’s triumph on Saturday in Bahrain in the World Endurance Championship, with its AF Corse factory outfit clinching both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in the series.

Elkann drew a sharp comparison between that united success and the Formula 1 outfit’s current struggles.

The Chairman’s Fiery Rebuke

“We won the Endurance world titles in Bahrain, and it was an extraordinary feeling,” Elkann told Sky Sports Italy. “Winning both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships shows that when Ferrari is united, when everyone works together, we can achieve truly great things.”

However, Elkann did not hold back when reflecting on Ferrari’s Formula 1 woes.

“Brazil was a big disappointment. Looking at the Formula 1 championship, we can say that we have our mechanics, who are basically winning the championship with their performance and everything that has been done on the pitstops. Our engineers have undoubtedly improved the car. But when it comes to the rest, it is still not up to par,” he added.

“And surely we have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less. We still have important races ahead of us, and it is not impossible to achieve second place [in the constructors]. This is the most important message, because Bahrain itself is the demonstration that, when everyone at Ferrari work together, we win.”

A Harsh Assessment – or a Wake-Up Call?

Elkann’s words sent a clear signal that pressure is intensifying in Maranello, though his criticism of the drivers may be viewed as harsh.

Neither Leclerc nor Hamilton has made any provocative or excessive comments to the media in recent weeks – if anything, both have praised the team’s progress and spoken optimistically about Ferrari’s direction.

• Read also: Hamilton admits Ferrari dream has become ‘a nightmare’

Still, Elkann’s message underscores the relentless expectations surrounding the Scuderia as the season heads toward its conclusion. With three races remaining, Ferrari trails Mercedes and Red Bull, and reclaiming second place in the championship will demand a flawless finish.

After a bruising weekend in São Paulo, Elkann’s blunt words serve both as reprimand and rallying cry. For Ferrari’s star drivers, the mission is now clear: talk less, deliver more, and bring the prancing horse back to where Elkann – and the Tifosi – believe it belongs.

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