Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert: Ferrari struggles are engineering, not driver mistakes. Johnny Herbert defends Hamilton and Leclerc, says Ferrari issues are technical.

The president’s comments

When John Elkann spoke on November 10, his words quickly became a hot topic among Formula 1 insiders during the break before the Las Vegas Grand Prix scheduled for next weekend. The call to “talk less and focus on driving” sparked widespread discussion, both about whether the remark was directed at Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, or both, and whether the drivers had actually said anything that could have annoyed the Ferrari president.

Herbert’s analysis

Speaking on The Race podcast ‘Stay on Track’, former F1 driver and FIA steward Johnny Herbert discussed Ferrari’s current issues. “I think the president was very harsh. Lewis has extensive experience, having won world championships with Mercedes and McLaren, and he knows how those teams operate in a very methodical way,” Johnny Herbert said.

Johnny Herbert strongly defended Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: “I believe what they say is correct. They are critical of the team and the car’s performance, and that is their job.” He also explained that John Elkann’s remarks could make things harder for the two drivers within the team. “The fact that John tells the drivers to stay quiet is not a positive thing; it makes things a little more difficult for them. Unfortunately, the problem is in the factory, where the engineers have not been able to deliver what was required. If the drivers had had the car they needed, they wouldn’t have made those kinds of comments.” – the former Formula 1 driver concluded.