Ferrari continues to struggle, but Elkann seems unaware
Tensions have been running high inside Ferrari throughout the 2025 Formula 1 season. Both drivers have made their frustration clear since as early as the Australian Grand Prix, the first sign of a year that has turned into a nightmare. The SF-25 was born with serious flaws and has been corrected very little — and poorly at that. Only Charles Leclerc’s extraordinary talent has managed to mask some of the car’s weaknesses, as seen once again in qualifying last Saturday, when he delivered an incredible lap.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, has faced the reality of joining a team that is far from being ready to fight for victories. After countless broken promises, the psychological impact has been heavy. The seven-time world champion recently admitted that he feels trapped in a “nightmare” situation from which he has yet to find an escape. His season tally of just 148 points clearly shows how far below expectations he has performed — not due to lack of effort, but because of the car’s limitations.
Hamilton has also tried to introduce a new, winning work methodology at Maranello, drawing from his years of success at Mercedes. However, the team has been slow to adapt. Only in the final races of the season does there seem to be a shift in approach, aimed at laying stronger foundations ahead of the major regulation changes coming in 2026.
“Drivers should focus on driving and talk less”
Speaking on the sidelines of a presentation for the new partnership between Stellantis and the Milano-Cortina project, John Elkann took questions from the press. He was visibly pleased with Ferrari’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) victory but used the opportunity to redirect attention to the Formula 1 division. John Elkann praised the technical team and mechanics for their progress but criticized the drivers’ attitude.
“The Brazilian Grand Prix was a great disappointment,” John Elkann stated. “If we look at the Formula 1 season, we can say that our mechanics are winning their own championship for the quality of their performances and the excellent work in the pits. Technically, our engineers have made clear progress and the car has improved. However, in other areas we are still not at the level we need to be.
“It is crucial that our drivers stay focused on driving and speak less, because we still have important races ahead of us, and second place in the championship is not out of reach.”
His remarks raised eyebrows. After all, what “important races” is the president referring to, when chasing second place in the Constructors’ standings is essentially meaningless? Such comments, coming from Ferrari’s top figure, risk demoralizing a team already struggling to regain competitiveness.
Another wasted opportunity for John Elkann to stay silent
John Elkann’s statements have been described as both shocking and ill-timed. Ferrari’s drivers are arguably the least of the team’s problems. The Scuderia has failed to win a title in almost 20 years, and too often produces cars that can only be described as embarrassing. Despite that, the engineers and mechanics continue to do their best with the tools available — a reality Elkann seems unwilling to recognize.
Was this meant as a call to order? Perhaps in Maranello it is frowned upon to admit that the team has been underperforming for years. But blaming the drivers — especially Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc — seems misplaced. Even if they have made mistakes, it must be remembered that victories and defeats in Formula 1 are always collective. Standing firmly on the side of a team that has clearly lost its direction, while criticizing two of the best drivers on the grid, is not only surprising but also deeply unwise.
