Ferrari CEO John Elkann is under fire for his comments following the GP of São Paulo. After the double DNF of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, he warned that both drivers need to focus more: “Less talking, more racing,” was his message. Many experts, including former world champion Jenson Button, question Elkann’s criticism.
“When we look at the Formula 1 championship, we can say that our mechanics would win the championship with their performances and everything they manage during the pit stops,” Elkann stated on the Italian branch of Sky Sports. “When we look at our engineers, there is no doubt that the car has improved. But nothing else is up to par. For our drivers, it’s important that they focus on racing and talk less,” he gave his drivers a stern rebuke.
‘Lead by Example’
Former world champion Jenson Button responded on social media: “Perhaps John should lead by example,” he wrote tellingly. Other experts also expressed their doubts about the CEO’s words. Analyst Karun Chandhok pointed out that the problem mainly lies with the car’s performance. “If Ferrari had been as good as McLaren this year, I truly believe that both Charles and Lewis would have been title contenders,” he wrote. “They both could have fought for victories. The crux of the problem is that Ferrari is simply not fast enough.”
In a podcast for Sky Sports, commentator Ted Kravitz also voiced his criticism. “It’s good that John Elkann dares to speak out,” he said. “After all, he is the chairman of the team. But the drivers are indeed committed to Ferrari. Hamilton thinks about the team when he says he wants to improve things. And Leclerc thinks about the team when he brings up Hamilton’s points and admits that he has been struggling with it for a while. Everyone is aiming for improvement.”
