Villeneuve: Elkann’s comments shocking but it’s ‘the Ferrari way’

Jacques Villeneuve has weighed in on Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s recent criticism of the team’s drivers, insisting that while the comments were “shocking”, they were not historically untypical of the Italian outfit’s internal dynamics.

Elkann sparked headlines after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, in which Ferrari suffered a double retirement and dropped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, by saying Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc “need to focus on driving and talk less.”

Villeneuve, whose late father was a legendary member of the Scuderia, offered a nuanced take on the controversy, framing it as emblematic of the House of Maranello’s tumultuous history.

Shocking, Yet Quintessentially Ferrari

“We shouldn't be surprised because remember how it ended up with Prost, with Mansell, with Alonso, with Vettel. It seems to be a trend at Ferrari. Ferrari comes first. And Ferrari will always protect Ferrari,” Villeneuve told betting website BetVictor Casino.

“I didn't see comments that were detrimental to the team coming from the drivers. So, it's the chairman who's done this, but this came just after winning the WEC. I guess he was pinpointing how amazing the team in WEC did, compared to F1. But it's a different ball game.

The 1997 F1 world champion emphasized the emotional undercurrents fueling Elkann's outburst, viewing it less as malice and more as the high-stakes volatility inherent to elite competition.

“It was a bit shocking, but it seems to be the Ferrari way when you look at the past. Most drivers have broken their teeth there, most drivers with personality. It's a strange environment.

“Brazil just turned out bad, not because there was a lack of pace or because the drivers were doing bad. I think that came out a little bit of left field, purely linked to winning the WEC.”

“It's part and parcel of sports. You have emotions, you have energy, and it will go both ways. And I'm sure that's what happened with the chairman as well. The emotions of winning and then a bad weekend result-wise in Brazil. So, the two mixed together created a big reaction.”

The Slippery Slope of Public Criticism

The Canadian also pointed out how comments like Elkann’s can be magnified in today’s media environment.

“We live in an era where everything gets multiplied, whether it's on social media or gets over-analysed,” he added.

“But I don't see how those comments can be helpful, not least in creating a positive mindset because they've always seemed to be quite united with their team. They both seemed to be using their social media channels to call for unity.

“Obviously, the energy at Ferrari is not great, which is not surprising. It’s been years of not winning. There were high hopes this year, so it's been a big letdown. So, of course the emotions run high.

“The problem is that when it gets out into the media, it gets dirty and that's never a nice thing. Then it gets bigger than it is and it can get out of control mostly with the fans and the media.

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“We really have to be careful with that because it's a slippery road. Hopefully that's where it will stop because we've seen what happened with Prost, Mansell, almost every driver with a personality that has been in Ferrari.

“It would be a shame, if it went that way again.”

Villeneuve’s measured assessment of the situation at Ferrari underline the enduring tensions at the Italian outfit: high expectations, passionate leadership, and the challenge of keeping driver morale intact in one of Formula 1’s most scrutinized environments.

While Elkann’s words caused a stir, Villeneuve’s perspective reminds fans that Ferrari’s fiery culture has long been part of the story.

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