Ferrari has done it again — and this time, it’s not on the track but at the very top of the Scuderia hierarchy. In a shocking and highly controversial statement, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann has blamed Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for the team’s disastrous performance in Brazil, telling the two world-class drivers to “focus on driving and talk less.”
The remarks, delivered just days after Ferrari’s humiliating double DNF at Interlagos, have sent shockwaves through Formula 1 — and left fans fuming.
“Focus on driving”? That’s what Elkann told the media — as if Hamilton and Leclerc were the problem, not Ferrari’s chronically underperforming car.
Insiders describe the comment as “a massive misstep” from the Ferrari boss, one that risks fracturing team morale and driving a wedge between the organization’s leadership and its star drivers. Ferrari’s SF25 has been a nightmare since its debut — plagued by unstable ride height, poor balance, and unreliable downforce. Despite the clear engineering issues, Elkann’s praise for the team’s technical staff and criticism of the drivers has left many scratching their heads.
“You can’t blame the pilots when the car is the problem,” said one veteran F1 engineer. “Hamilton and Leclerc are doing everything humanly possible. The SF25 just isn’t good enough.”
Social media exploded moments after Elkann’s quote hit the news. Thousands of fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with outrage, accusing Ferrari’s leadership of arrogance and denial.
“Imagine blaming Lewis Hamilton for your engineering mistakes,” one fan wrote.
“Elkann should be thanking them for keeping Ferrari relevant,” added another.
The backlash was immediate and fierce — with even some Italian media outlets calling the statement “a PR disaster.”
Sources close to the team describe growing frustration inside Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. Both Hamilton and Leclerc are said to have been “stunned” by the remarks. Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season with dreams of delivering the team its first drivers’ title in over a decade, has endured a tough campaign, scoring just 148 points so far — his lowest total since 2013. Leclerc, meanwhile, has struggled to extract consistency from a car that seems allergic to downforce.
At the heart of Ferrari’s woes is a controversial decision made months ago: to halt development of the SF25 and shift resources toward the 2026 car, built for the next major regulation change. That move has left Ferrari stranded — neither competitive in 2025 nor prepared enough for what’s coming next.
“They’ve basically given up on this season,” one insider said. “And now they’re blaming the drivers to deflect attention.”
With 2026 looming and both drivers reportedly evaluating their futures, Ferrari faces a make-or-break moment. If the next-generation car fails to deliver, it could trigger a major exodus — and tarnish the team’s reputation even further.
“Hamilton didn’t come to Ferrari to be a scapegoat,” one British pundit warned. “He came to win. And if Ferrari can’t give him the tools to do that, he won’t stick around.”
As for Leclerc, sources close to the Monegasque driver say he’s “deeply frustrated” but still hopeful that Ferrari can turn things around — provided leadership stops pointing fingers and starts fixing problems.
Ferrari’s crisis isn’t just mechanical — it’s cultural. A team once defined by unity and passion is now being torn apart by politics and pride. John Elkann’s comment may have been meant as a rallying cry, but instead it’s become a symbol of Ferrari’s disconnect from reality.
Until the Scuderia faces its flaws head-on, no driver — not even Lewis Hamilton — can save them.
For now, one thing is clear:
💥 Ferrari’s biggest battle isn’t against Red Bull or Mercedes — it’s against itself.
