John Elkann’s remarks about the two Ferrari drivers continue to fuel intense debate. His words have become increasingly difficult to defend in the eyes of fans, with criticism now focused more on the team’s management than on the performance of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has also commented on the situation, describing the atmosphere at Maranello as “demoralizing”.
The Brazilian Grand Prix saw both Ferrari drivers retire from the race: Charles Leclerc sustained severe damage to his car through no fault of his own after being caught in the incident involving Oscar Piastri and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Lewis Hamilton damaged the floor of his Ferrari multiple times and was forced to retire halfway through the race.
Shortly after the difficult weekend, John Elkann commented on the team’s performance, urging the drivers to “focus on driving” and to “speak less”. His stance immediately triggered criticism throughout the Formula 1 paddock.
Speaking to Mirror Sport, Damon Hill said: “I saw the interview. I was a bit surprised by what I heard, and I think many others were too. I didn’t notice the drivers saying anything outrageous… they will be critical, of course, they are part of the team. But the drivers are in a sense the end users of the product. They probably won’t say everything is wonderful when it clearly isn’t.”
Damon Hill then added: “It’s a Formula 1 organisation, so there are many moving parts. (Ferrari) didn’t exactly cover itself in glory. They’ve had too many highs and lows this year. It can be… I don’t know the right word. It’s not humiliating, but it can be a bit demoralizing. I’m sure he must have told them privately, but when you say something publicly, then it can be destabilizing.”
Damon Hill concluded by highlighting the essence of a historic but demanding team like Ferrari. “Ultimately, the head of Ferrari is the one who pays the drivers, and they are there to do a job. The driver works for the team. If they make mistakes, sometimes there are corrections or reprimands. That shows that the driver is temporary, while the team — especially one like Ferrari — remains forever,” he concluded.
