The comments made by Ferrari President John Elkann after the disappointing result at the Brazilian Grand Prix have triggered a real earthquake among the British media. Elkann, after praising the work of the mechanics and engineers, launched a harsh warning aimed directly at the team’s two drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
“We have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less,” stated John Elkann after what was a disastrous weekend for the Scuderia Ferrari team at Interlagos. The criticism, directed at both Hamilton and Leclerc, left little room for interpretation and immediately made waves across international media outlets — particularly within the British press. Among those to analyze Elkann’s remarks and Ferrari’s internal dynamics was The Race, which pointed out that similar tensions had been seen within the Maranello-based team in the past.
A story already seen before: can Ferrari recover?
“We’ve seen this movie plenty of times before,” commented Glenn Freeman, “and it has never ended well. There’s no team in Formula 1 more riddled with political tension than Ferrari, nor one that operates under such immense pressure.” Freeman went on to recall that Ferrari’s most successful era came when Jean Todt and Ross Brawn created a shield between the racing team and the corporate hierarchy above. “The modern Ferrari, however, seems unable to build that same kind of protection,” he concluded.
According to the British press, the central question now revolves around team principal Frédéric Vasseur: will he be able to withstand Elkann’s pressure and keep the team united? As highlighted by TheRace.com, both Fred Vasseur and John Elkann appear to express similar principles on paper — emphasizing calmness, unity, and focus. The real problem, however, lies in how those messages are delivered. While Fred Vasseur tends to communicate with composure and optimism, John Elkann’s recent statements publicly pointed fingers at the drivers, implying a lack of cohesion within the Ferrari camp.
“He risks losing his best asset,” warn British journalists
“If I were the President of Ferrari, the last thing I would do is publicly criticize the drivers — especially Charles Leclerc,” argued Josh Suttil. “He risks losing his best asset. Leclerc is sacrificing the best years of his Formula 1 career for Ferrari, and such comments could easily damage that relationship.”
The warning from the British media was clear: Ferrari’s leadership could be jeopardizing the fragile balance that keeps the team together. With Lewis Hamilton still adjusting to life at Maranello and Leclerc carrying the emotional weight of years of near-misses, Elkann’s public remarks may only intensify the internal tension within Ferrari.
The echoes of 2016 and the Sebastian Vettel case
“This reminds me of 2016,” recalled Ben Anderson, “when Ferrari’s management reprimanded Sebastian Vettel for being too eager to influence the technical direction of the car. Back then, on the eve of the Japanese Grand Prix, he was told exactly the same words.” Anderson connected these events to Freeman’s earlier observation, highlighting how Ferrari’s leadership has a history of publicly expressing dissatisfaction with its top drivers — often to the detriment of team harmony.
The recurring pattern, according to several British commentators, reflects a deeper issue within Ferrari’s management structure. Instead of creating unity, open criticism from the top tends to fragment the team, lowering morale and increasing pressure on those who should instead feel supported.
The British press sees Elkann’s comments as damaging
From the statements published across various outlets, it is evident that the British media unanimously considered John Elkann’s remarks to be in poor taste. In a period when Formula 1 competition is fiercer than ever and Ferrari’s return to consistent success remains uncertain, such words are seen as counterproductive for both the drivers and the team itself. The press emphasized that constructive dialogue and internal stability are crucial if Ferrari hopes to challenge teams like Red Bull and McLaren in the coming seasons.
Meanwhile, the drivers’ reactions were quick to appear online. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc reaffirmed their commitment to Ferrari through social media posts, expressing loyalty and determination to continue working together to bring the Scuderia back to the top of Formula 1. Their statements aimed to calm speculation and convey a message of unity in a time of growing scrutiny and external criticism.
While the tension surrounding Ferrari shows no signs of fading, one thing is certain — John Elkann’s words have reignited debate about the team’s internal balance and leadership approach.
Leave a Reply