Charles Leclerc saw his race end before it even began. He explained that there was nothing he could do after the contact between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli severely damaged his Ferrari. “It’s frustrating because we were working well,” he said. Lewis Hamilton experienced a similarly challenging Sunday, marked by multiple contacts and a damaged floor. “The car was undrivable,” the seven-time world champion stated before retiring while running outside the top 10.
In this already tense context, John Elkann’s remarks further fueled debate. The president stated that his drivers should “talk less and focus on driving,” a comment that immediately sparked discussion. Hill reacted by saying, “I watched the interview and was surprised. I didn’t hear the drivers say anything offensive. If I missed something, someone should tell me.” He added, “Drivers are the end users of the car. They will never say everything is fine if it isn’t.”
Damon Hill also highlighted how public statements can weigh heavily on a team like Ferrari. “Saying certain things in front of cameras can be demoralizing. I’m sure he said it in private as well, but doing it publicly risks being seen as a way to shift responsibility.” This underscores the unique and often complex relationship between Ferrari and its drivers, a dynamic more intricate than in most other teams.
It is not the first time a Ferrari driver has faced criticism from the top. Damon Hill recalled previous examples: “Prost, Mansell, Vettel… they weren’t the first to receive public criticism.” However, he clarified that despite everything, the internal dynamic remains the same: “At the end of the day, the boss pays you and you have to do your job. But that doesn’t mean attacking publicly is the solution.” For Hill, the strongest message is clear: “The driver comes and goes, Ferrari stays. But unity is essential, especially when results are needed.”
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