The social media storm surrounding Ferrari president John Elkann’s recent remarks shows no sign of slowing down. Even 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has now taken a public stance, siding with the drivers. Elkann’s statements, made in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix, have turned into a full-blown media controversy. The reactions from paddock insiders and key figures were immediate, and the message appears clear: the main issue for the Scuderia Ferrari is the car, not the drivers.
The events at Interlagos, while dramatic in the context of a tightly fought world championship, were still within the bounds of racing incidents. There were two key moments — one of them, the crash that eliminated Charles Leclerc, was purely accidental and part of the unpredictable nature of Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton’s misjudgment during his overtaking attempt on Franco Colapinto was certainly a costly mistake, but the contact at the start that sent the British driver to the back of the pack had nothing to do with the Ferrari driver.
Nevertheless, John Elkann’s reaction this time was swift and harsh: “The drivers should talk less and drive better.” The words were clearly directed at the seven-time world champion, possibly as a response to growing discontent within Maranello. According to several reports, many of Ferrari’s top engineers have expressed doubts about the radical approach and ambitious demands of the driver from Stevenage.
Button’s social response to Elkann’s comments
Although Ferrari reportedly attempted to soften the tone of Elkann’s statement — a spokesperson told ESPN that the president’s intent was meant as “constructive criticism” — the backlash on social media came quickly. Many prominent motorsport figures criticized the Exor CEO, arguing that he misdirected his frustration over the double DNF suffered by Ferrari at Interlagos.
The latest criticism came from Jenson Button, 2009 Formula 1 world champion and current Sky Sports F1 pundit. Commenting on Instagram under a post about John Elkann’s statement, Jenson Button wrote a sharp and ironic response: “Drivers should talk less? Maybe John [Elkann] should set the example.”
