The Prancing Horse finds itself once again at the center of criticism, both for mistakes on track and for ill-timed statements. Comments from John Elkann, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Lewis Hamilton have sparked reflections on Ferrari’s future, balancing brand management and the high expectations of fans.
A week of mixed emotions for Ferrari
Ferrari has just come through a week in the spotlight. Focusing solely on Formula 1, it would have been ideal to tell the story of a winning, triumphant team. Instead, negativity seems to surround the Scuderia.
On one hand, there was the Brazilian Grand Prix, which saw the Maranello team fall back into turmoil. Charles Leclerc was caught up in a collision between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli, while Lewis Hamilton made an error that compromised the SF-25’s setup and ended his race prematurely.
Adding to this, John Elkann used Ferrari’s victory in the WEC championship as an opportunity to address the two stars of the open-wheel world. Do these statements make sense? We’ve expressed our views before, but it’s worth noting that such words can reveal important insights about the team.
Why speak now, when both Charles and Lewis have made much harsher statements during the season? While defending the Ferrari brand is understandable given Elkann’s role, the approach was questionable. It demonstrates that the team’s value outweighs that of its drivers, potentially hinting at internal management strategies for future championship battles.
It’s fair to argue that this may be overthinking, but then why were there no public statements when Leclerc expressed disappointment in post-race interviews? Or when Lewis Hamilton said things like “we need to change the driver” after the Hungarian Grand Prix? The evaluation is left to the audience.
Montoya’s comments and the reality for Ferrari fans
Turning to the 2025 Ferrari season, a concept remains unfortunately relevant. First, let’s recall some statements: those made by Juan Pablo Montoya in a PokerStrategy interview, and others by Lewis Hamilton during the Brazilian GP weekend.
The former Colombian driver emphasized that Ferrari owes Leclerc a competitive car to prevent him from leaving, while expressing his astonishment at fans’ ongoing surprise at the team’s inconsistent performance. And in truth, it’s hard to argue with him. The last drivers’ title for Maranello was in 2007, with the constructors’ title following in 2008. Observing Ferrari lose after seventeen seasons no longer shocks anyone.
Yet, responding to Montoya, fans’ astonishment can be explained for two reasons. First, the 2024 season saw Ferrari compete for the constructors’ title against McLaren until the very last race. Some may call it a minor title fight, but after years without success, it carried significant weight.
Second, at the start of 2025, Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in red brought heightened attention to the team’s ambitions. Statements like “the goal is to target both championships” from team principal Fred Vasseur resonated strongly with fans.
Hamilton and Ferrari culture: a challenging union
Lewis Hamilton acknowledged his awareness of the season’s trajectory. Changing teams after many years meant more than just a new car or a different suit color—it required adapting to a radically different culture, mindset, and work environment.
Lewis Hamilton also aimed to influence working methods through his feedback. As #44, he is an excellent communicator, especially away from race weekends, which can temper his messages. This approach can calm internal tensions, but it also raises questions.
Who’s to say these statements weren’t carefully crafted? For context, at the start of the year during the F175 Live event, Lewis Hamilton declared: “This car will be my car.”
However, reality proved different. The driver-car chemistry was rarely perfect, compounded by challenges such as adjusting to the team environment and establishing a smooth working relationship with race engineer Riccardo Adami—something that has struggled, even to this day.
Words, expectations, and reality: lessons for 2026
Once again, we face a timeless lesson: the importance of weighing words. Careful communication is essential, as fans and journalists scrutinize every statement. Missteps can impact the internal climate and how the season is perceived.
Equally important is managing expectations. The takeaway for 2026 is to expect nothing—to start the season already tempered in hope. While not an inspiring message, it aligns with reality: years of anticipation have taught fans that patience often goes unrewarded.
Realistically, it would be refreshing to hear statements driven not by hype, but by measured anticipation. For instance, hearing Fred Vasseur and the drivers say: “We are optimistic, but let’s wait for the first races to see the car’s true potential.”
Of course, communication strategies exist, often shaped by sponsor interests. Ferrari, as a global symbol of excellence, will continue to attract attention. But a symbol must speak through results. As long as words dominate over actions, fans and observers will remain stuck in the pit lane, waiting for tangible proof.
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