Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s criticism of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc has been labeled “embarrassing” and “pointless”.
After Ferrari suffered two expensive retirements on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, dropping the group to fourth place within the constructors’ championship with three races remaining, Elkann advised Hamilton and Leclerc to “give attention to driving and never speak an excessive amount of.”
Elkann’s feedback made headlines and sparked a heated debate forward of this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix about concord inside Ferrari amid a extremely disappointing and disappointing 2025 marketing campaign.
Based on former F1 driver Anthony Davidson, the scenario ought to have been handled privately.
“It was a really public slap on the wrist, wasn’t it? I used to be shocked and I might have thought the identical if I have been one of many Ferrari drivers, as a result of it might have and possibly ought to have been achieved behind closed doorways,” Davidson advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“The entire thing was a bit embarrassing. It was awkward studying figuring out that if we received right here there would inevitably be powerful questions from the media, as a result of it was very fascinating. I feel it was fully pointless.”
Elkann’s reprimand got here after seven-time world champion Hamilton described his first season with Ferrari as a “nightmare” after his DNF in Brazil.
“All of this might and may have been prevented,” Davidson continued.
Requested whether or not Elkann’s feedback have been a rant or a kick, Davidson mentioned: “I feel it was a slap on the wrist. Some drivers have mentioned in public, ‘This can be a nightmare,’ so possibly it was a blow for a blow in public.”
“I feel it ought to have been achieved internally. We should not have learn these feedback and making a fuss right here was fully pointless.”
Ferrari Chairman Elkann’s remarks change into a sizzling matter
How did Hamilton and Leclerc react?
Each Hamilton and teammate Leclerc downplayed Elkann’s feedback in Las Vegas as they confronted harsh criticism from media world wide.
“I do know the place John’s intentions are, so I did not take something from the feedback,” Hamilton mentioned.
“We speak a couple of instances per week, so we have talked a couple of instances since final week. It is all about bringing the group collectively and we’re all actually coming collectively. We’re all deep into it.”
“That keenness is absolutely deep. However I adore it, and I can by no means fault anybody who has that form of ardour.”
“I do not use social media a lot, however I heard about this immediately,” Leclerc mentioned.
“John, as traditional, known as me after the Grand Prix and we talked about every part, together with what he was going to say.
“John was constructive and needed to push the group to do higher. As a driver, the perfect factor I can do is give attention to the observe and do my greatest. That is what I’ve at all times achieved and can proceed to do.”
“That does not imply we will not do extra. We are able to and we take that as motivation to attempt to do higher. We hope to see outcomes as quickly as attainable.”
