F1 | Ferrari president John Elkann finally speaks: his message to fans after Singapore GP
Fans and industry insiders had been eagerly awaiting his comments, and finally, John Elkann has spoken about Ferrari and the current situation in Formula 1. “It’s a personal matter for me,” he said, highlighting his deep personal connection to the team.
The Ferrari President, John Elkann, broke his silence and returned to discussing Formula 1 during the opening of the Capital Markets Day. His speech was highly anticipated by both fans and industry experts after the recent disappointing performances of the Prancing Horse. At Singapore, a track theoretically favorable for the SF-25, the team faced yet another bitter disappointment. A decisive change in direction is expected, which will be crucial to retain the now wavering Charles Leclerc at Maranello.
What happened in Singapore must not happen again, and everyone at Maranello is well aware of this. A promise comes also from Frédéric Vasseur, who is currently navigating a particularly challenging period as team principal of the Prancing Horse. Fred Vasseur had been clear: the “lift and coast” issue needs to be resolved, because in its current state, the team cannot even fight for the minimum goal of second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
From Marina Bay, rumors of a disagreement with one of the team’s leading engineers only added fuel to the fire. Whether the intervention comes from Benedetto Vigna or John Elkann himself, a statement from Ferrari’s leadership was expected. And it is precisely the President who breaks the silence and speaks directly to the fans, who are “eager to see Ferrari win in Formula 1.”
John Elkann’s words on Ferrari
This morning in Maranello, the Ferrari Capital Markets Day 2025 was held, and President John Elkann took the floor, also addressing the topic of Formula 1: “Ferrari is unique, and it is so in three dimensions: tradition, technology, and racing. The perfect combination of these three aspects defines Ferrari. Racing, a story that began on the track almost 100 years ago, defines who we are. […] I want to be clear: this is a personal matter for me. My commitment is, as President, as majority shareholder, and above all as someone who has experienced Ferrari as a lifelong passion. I am committed to ensuring that every decision we make strengthens the uniqueness of Ferrari. I am committed to our people, whose talent and dedication are the greatest guarantee for our future. I am committed to our beloved Ferraristi, who entrust us with their dreams. And I am committed to our loyal fans, eager to see us win in Formula 1 just as we are winning in Endurance racing. And it is with pride that we have brought home the trophy after three consecutive victories at Le Mans this year. Forza Ferrari, always.”
Although a direct reference to the Formula 1 team’s problems is still missing, this represents a first step toward perhaps more transparent communication. It remains unclear whether meetings with the Sports Management team will also take place in Maranello. Such a meeting would be desirable to stabilize an environment that once again seems to be at the mercy of turbulent times.
