Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has taken aim at Ferrari president John Elkann for publicly criticizing the Italian outfit’s drivers following last weekend’s disastrous São Paulo Grand Prix.
After the Scuderia suffered a double DNF and slipped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, Elkann suggested that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc “need to focus on driving and talk less.”
Steiner, speaking on The Red Flags podcast, believes the Ferrari’s chairman’s public intervention was a clear and clumsy leadership fumble.
“He is allowed to critique because in the end he’s the boss, but I think he shouldn’t do that in public,” he fired off, questioning Elkann’s decision to air dirty laundry.
With Ferrari’s season unraveling – marked by Hamilton’s “nightmare” debut year and Leclerc’s gritty but inconsistent campaign – Elkann’s comments drew defiant responses from both drivers, who called for unity. Steiner, however, sees the boss’s outburst as a misstep that undermines the team’s morale.
A Leadership Misstep?
Steiner’s remarks cut deep, especially when it comes to Leclerc, Ferrari’s homegrown hero.
“With Lewis, you know… But Charles, the guy puts his heart and soul into this, everything. What more do you want from Charles?” he demanded, defending the Monegasque’s all-in commitment.
Leclerc has delivered seven podiums in 2025, while Hamilton, the seven-time champ, has struggled to find his footing, with just a Chinese Grand Prix sprint win to show so far for his Ferrari stint.
Steiner’s not buying Elkann’s public blame game, especially when it spares team principal Fred Vasseur.
“It is not showing good leadership saying ‘this guy is doing it right, the mechanics are good, the engineers are good, but you guys are bad’ in public. And no comment about Fred,” he said, raising an eyebrow at the selective criticism.
The outspoken Italian also took aim at Elkann’s lofty perch.
“I find it weird to say the least, to make a comment like this, from a person at that level of the company – the highest level. He doesn’t have to ask anybody to do it or not to do it,” Steiner remarked.
He urged Elkann to zip it if he can’t say something constructive. As leadership means lifting the team, not tearing it down in the headlines.
“But if you have nothing good to say, say nothing in that position,” he added.
Sportscars vs. F1: Apples and Oranges
Elkann’s attempt to draw parallels between Ferrari’s sportscar championship triumph and its F1 woes didn’t sit well with Steiner either.
“Obviously they won the sportscar championship, which congratulations, but you cannot compare the two championships,” he said, giving credit where it’s due but dismissing the comparison.
“You still need to win it and I respect that they won it, it’s very cool, but in the end it’s a balance of performance championship. Formula 1 is a different kettle of fish.
“I’m not downgrading what they won in sports cars, but to say ‘see what it’s possible to do’… yeah… how about helping it to make it happen?”
Steiner also pointed the finger back at Elkann’s driver decisions, particularly the controversial call to swap Carlos Sainz for Hamilton.
“Also, who decided the drivers? Sometimes you have to look in the mirror. For sure he agreed to hire Lewis, that’s my understanding,” he said, suggesting Elkann can’t dodge responsibility for the team’s struggles.
With Sainz thriving elsewhere and Hamilton yet to podium in a Grand Prix for Ferrari, the decision is under scrutiny, and Steiner’s not afraid to call it out.
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The former Haas chief’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate in Formula 1 about leadership and communication.
While constructive criticism is part of the job, Steiner believes high-level executives like Elkann should avoid airing grievances publicly, particularly when their drivers are already under intense scrutiny from media and fans alike.
For now, the spotlight remains on Ferrari as they seek to recover from a rough São Paulo weekend, while Steiner’s comments ensure that the conversation about leadership and respect at the top of F1 will not be ignored.
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