Jenson Button urges John Elkann: “Only direct action can repair the damage”. Jenson Button comments on the tension inside Ferrari after Elkann’s criticism of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.

As Ferrari waits for possible statements from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in Las Vegas, John Elkann’s comments are still causing major debate. According to many observers, there is only one way to repair the situation after the criticism.

The São Paulo Grand Prix once again put Ferrari under the spotlight and highlighted the tension inside the team. After the double retirement in the race, Ferrari president John Elkann publicly criticized both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, sparking a strong reaction from fans and experts. Jenson Button also weighed in, explaining what he considers the most effective approach.

Speaking in the latest episode of the Sky F1 podcast, Button explained: “Ferrari has always had huge pressure to achieve good results. Every F1 team has pressure, but especially Ferrari. All of Italy wants Ferrari to win.”

Regarding the management of the drivers, the 2009 world champion added: “John has only two cars in the red garage. It’s very easy to go and find your driver, talk to him and say: ‘You know what? This is not how we work as a team. These are the guidelines.’ Or you can explain to him why he needs to behave a certain way. I understand, you’re trying to help, but direct communication is always the best option.”

The British champion also underlined the experience of both drivers: “In a team, when you have thousands of people working on the development of a car and you have two drivers, two of the best in the world, you go and have a chat with them.”

Jenson Button then commented on the performance of his fellow countryman, who has struggled since starting his new adventure in red. “In the first part of the year it took him longer to feel comfortable with the car. These cars are really unique in the way you drive them, and every driver faces challenges when joining a new team,” Jenson Button said.

“In the last Grands Prix, however, the performance compared to Charles has been practically the same in qualifying and in the race. They just need to fine-tune a few small details to avoid mistakes in qualifying. It’s crucial for the sport to see Ferrari on the podium, to see Lewis on the podium. And it would be fantastic for Ferrari if they could fight for a win at the end of the season,” he concluded.