Ferrari suffered a severe setback during the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The Scuderia recorded their second double DNF (Did Not Finish) of the season. Charles Leclerc was tragically knocked out of the race at the restart, while Lewis Hamilton sabotaged his own chances with a failed overtaking maneuver. The Monegasque driver expressed his frustration afterwards, while his British teammate offered a dejected apology. The patience of Ferrari CEO John Elkann is wearing thin – he demands results from his drivers.
“A difficult weekend,” was how team boss Fred Vasseur summed up the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. After all, both drivers had failed to reach the finish line. When Oscar Piastri dove into the first corner at the restart, he locked his brakes and collided with Antonelli’s Mercedes. The Italian lost control and pushed Charles Leclerc, who was attempting to overtake on the outside, off the track. This marked the end of the race for the Ferrari driver. Teammate Lewis Hamilton had already come in earlier for a tire change and a new front wing. The seven-time world champion had damaged his nose in a failed attempt to overtake Franco Colapinto. After 37 laps, he too had to abandon the race – the damage to his SF-25 was too extensive.
‘Less Talk, More Racing’
Ferrari CEO John Elkann expressed his frustration to the Italian branch of Sky Sports. “Brazil was a huge disappointment,” he responded. “Looking at the Formula 1 championship, we can say that our mechanics are winning the championship with their performances and everything they accomplished during the pit stops. Looking at our engineers, there’s no doubt that the car has improved. But when we look at the rest, nothing is up to par.”
Elkann was notably critical of the performances of Carlos Sainz Jr and Hamilton. He urged his drivers to focus on racing, rather than making statements in the media. “For our drivers, it’s important that they focus on racing, and talk less,” he admonished them. “We still have a number of important races ahead. Second place in the constructors’ championship is still achievable.” The Ferrari CEO finally drew a comparison with his endurance team: “In Bahrain, we won the WEC title. When Ferrari is united, results are achieved.”
