A Ferrari spokesperson has reportedly explained to ESPN the real meaning behind John Elkann’s controversial remarks about Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, revealing what was really behind the president’s provocative message.
John Elkann’s statements have caused a storm within the Ferrari world, with both the media and fans rallying in support of the two drivers who were targeted. According to what has emerged, a spokesperson for the Maranello team has revealed what Elkann truly meant with his words, shedding light on the background of the controversy.
It’s well known that Ferrari has been at the center of heated debate ever since John Elkann’s public criticism of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Two respected Italian sources believe the president’s message was mainly directed at the seven-time world champion, while the British press has chosen to take a more cautious stance so as not to anger the Monegasque driver. The Scuderia now has to deal with further speculation and rumors that have intensified following the uproar. Ferrari has therefore decided to clarify the matter, and this is what their spokesperson reportedly told ESPN.
“The comments were meant to be constructive”
“A Ferrari spokesperson told ESPN that the comments were meant to be ‘constructive’ and that the president’s intention was to motivate everyone,” wrote Nate Saunders for ESPN. “For anyone outside the team, however, that might seem like a rather generous interpretation of what Elkann said publicly.”
According to Saunders, though, those remarks reveal something deeper about John Elkann’s leadership. “It was a statement that came across as either insecure or arrogant—or perhaps a terrible combination of both—from a man leading a company that hasn’t won a Formula 1 drivers’ championship since 2007 or a constructors’ title since 2008. His words reflected the same kind of misguided top-down interference that plagued Ferrari before and after the glory days of Michael Schumacher.”
Ferrari’s failure in 2025 is evident, with a car that struggled from the start due to several design flaws. The ground clearance issue is just one of the many consequences of errors made during development. At Maranello, work is already underway on the new 678 project, which will feature radically revised suspension concepts under the direction of Loïc Serra. This season’s results have been disappointing, but both drivers have consistently given their all in an effort to turn things around. At the moment, the Italian team sits fourth in the Constructors’ standings—and things could have been even worse.
“Hamilton’s pole position and victory in China, along with Charles Leclerc’s seven podiums and two poles, are all the team can really show for its efforts this season,” Saunders concluded. “It’s fair to wonder what this car could have achieved if it weren’t in the hands of two of the most talented drivers on the grid.”
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