Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s subtle response to John Elkann’s criticism. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton may have indirectly responded to John Elkann’s criticism.

A tough Brazilian weekend for Ferrari

The Scuderia left the Brazilian Grand Prix with very few points. In the Sprint race, the two drivers finished in fifth and seventh place respectively, but Sunday’s Grand Prix turned into a nightmare. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were forced to retire after sustaining significant damage to their SF-25 cars. It was a weekend to forget for the team from Maranello, one that compromised their chase for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Following the double retirement and Max Verstappen’s strong recovery, Ferrari dropped to fourth place in the standings, falling behind Red Bull. The Monday after the Brazilian Grand Prix was far from calm for the team, as John Elkann’s public comments added even more tension to an already difficult situation.

The “response” from the drivers

John Elkann’s remarks about Ferrari’s performance did not go unnoticed. As is customary after every race, both Ferrari drivers shared a social media post summarizing their weekend — but this time, the tone of their messages seemed to carry an implicit reply to the president’s criticism.

Charles Leclerc focused his message on the importance of unity within the team as they approach the final three rounds of the season. The first photo in his gallery was a picture with team principal Frédéric Vasseur, symbolizing solidarity within Ferrari. In his caption, Charles Leclerc wrote: “A very tough weekend in São Paulo. It’s disappointing to go home with almost no points for the team at such a crucial stage of the season as we fight for P2 in the Constructors’ Championship. It’s an uphill battle now, and it’s clear that only unity can help us turn things around in the last three races. We’ll give it everything, as always.”

Lewis Hamilton also took to social media to share his own reflections after a difficult race: “Brazil. Thank you for all the love, always. In the end, it wasn’t the race we wanted. It hurts, especially after some good progress, but we’ll keep pushing. I stand with my team. I stand with myself. I won’t give up. Not now, not then, never.”

Both drivers’ messages, though composed in their usual professional tone, seem to echo the same theme — resilience, unity, and determination. Coming just hours after John Elkann’s strong words, their posts may well be seen as an indirect way of reaffirming their commitment to the team and to each other, subtly pushing back against criticism from above.

As Ferrari heads into the final stretch of the season, these statements highlight how crucial internal cohesion will be for the team. With only three races left, the focus for Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and the entire Ferrari squad will be to recover lost ground and finish the year on a positive note — proving that the team’s unity remains intact despite recent tensions.