Elkann’s Driver Rebuke Draws Fire as Villeneuve, Steiner and Chandhok Weigh In on Ferrari’s Woes
Critics warn public scolding could harm morale, with focus shifting to the car’s lack of pace as the more fundamental problem.
Overview
- After a double retirement in São Paulo that dropped Ferrari to fourth, chairman John Elkann said Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc should focus on driving and talk less, citing the WEC title as a contrast.
- Ferrari remains winless in 2025, with Hamilton labeling his first season a nightmare and neither driver mounting a sustained threat for grand prix victories.
- Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner called Elkann’s remarks poor leadership, arguing such criticism should not be delivered in public.
- Jacques Villeneuve described the intervention as shocking yet typical of Ferrari’s culture, warning the situation can get out of control once aired in the media.
- Karun Chandhok contended the car is the root issue, claiming Hamilton and Leclerc would have been title contenders if Ferrari’s pace matched McLaren’s.