Elkann tells Ferrari drivers to focus on driving and talk less | RACER

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton should “focus on driving and talking less” after a double retirement at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, according to Ferrari president John Elkann.

Ferrari dropped to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship – 36 points behind second-place Mercedes – after failing to score at Interlagos on Sunday. Leclerc was the innocent party in a collision between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli that took out the Monegasque as he fought for second place, while Hamilton was involved in two incidents – the second earning him a time penalty – before retiring with too much damage.

“Brazil was a huge disappointment,” Elkann said. “If we look at the Formula 1 Championship, we can say that on the one hand we have our mechanics, who are actually winning the championship with their performance and everything they have done during the pit stops.

“When we look at our engineers, there is no doubt that the car has improved. When we look at the rest, it is not right.

“We certainly have drivers for whom it is important that they concentrate on driving and talk less, because we still have important races ahead of us and it is not impossible to achieve second place.”

Elkann was speaking at an event for the 2026 Winter Olympics, to be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo early next year. His appearance coincided with a weekend in which Ferrari won the World Endurance Championship titles for both drivers and manufacturers, something he has always suggested means the F1 team is not working fully cohesively.

“To win both as a constructor and as a driver is a wonderful demonstration that when Ferrari is united, when everyone is together, you can achieve great things,” Elkann added.

Leclerc appeared to take note of Elkann’s comments with his latest social media post, as he stressed the need for the team to remain united at this stage of the season.

“Disappointing to come home with almost no points for the team at a crucial time of the season to fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship,” Leclerc wrote. “It’s all uphill from now on and it’s clear that only unity can help us turn that situation around in the last races. We will give everything, as always.”