Former Ferrari engineer Luigi Mazzola has sharply criticized Ferrari president John Elkann, stating: “He has as much experience in F1 as I do in…”, delivering an ironic comment on the Italian manager’s corporate abilities.
Mazzola has returned to attack John Elkann, emphasizing that his leadership of the Maranello-based Scuderia appears completely reckless. To illustrate the president’s perceived incompetence, Mazzola offered a notably ironic remark.
After the Brazilian Grand Prix, many still remember John Elkann’s words aimed at the drivers, which sparked an endless controversy surrounding the Prancing Horse. The Italian manager had addressed Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, telling them to “talk less and focus more on driving” or even to “think more about Ferrari and less about themselves.” This was seen as absurd since both Charles and Lewis, despite the latter facing more difficulties, always gave their maximum effort even when results were out of reach. The absurdity reached its peak with the statement “The car has improved,” followed ironically by a disappointing Qatar Grand Prix. Now, Engineer Luigi Mazzola has returned with criticisms during the podcast A Ruota Libera.
Mazzola: “Dirty laundry should be washed at home”
“John Elkann has as much experience in Formula 1 as I have in economics, which is practically none, honestly very little. He made that statement at a moment when he could have gained many points by celebrating success in the WEC. You’re there, you’ve won the drivers’ title, the constructors’ title… so why go talking about Formula 1?” Luigi Mazzola’s comment is pointed, aiming to highlight how John Elkann is completely unsuited to the top role at Ferrari.
In recent days, a rather ‘poisonous’ statement also came from former Scuderia head Luca Cordero di Montezemolo: “Who will win first, Bologna the Serie A title or Ferrari the Formula 1 World Championship? With the way things are in Maranello, Bologna will get there first…” Returning to Luigi Mazzola’s words, it increasingly seems that the president might not even follow what happens with the team during race weekends, only knowing what is reported to him second-hand.
“Those words might not even have been spoken directly by him. They were probably suggested to him. Certain figures are clearly given specific phrases. Obviously, this doesn’t help the team. But it’s also true that he is not Luca di Montezemolo. He isn’t a person whose words can really carry much influence. That’s how I see it. Dirty laundry should be washed at home, of course. When you say something like that publicly, from a political point of view, you are already targeting someone. Usually, it’s because you’re trying to influence what will happen next.” We will see what Ferrari will be capable of achieving in 2026…
This internal friction paints a picture of a team divided between its corporate leadership and its racing soul. As Luigi Mazzola suggests, the decision to go public with such harsh criticisms suggests a political game is afoot within Maranello, one that could have lasting consequences for the 2026 project. Whether this “low influence” leadership can still steer Ferrari back to the top remains the biggest question hanging over the Scuderia. Only time will tell what Ferrari will be capable of in 2026…
