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What Ferrari are saying behind closed doors after Elkann’s message to Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc

Originally posted on HITC | By Kyle Archer | Last updated Nov 14, 2025 10:08 AM ET

Ferrari chairman John Elkann raised eyebrows when he told Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to “focus on driving” following their tough outing at the 2025 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Elkann’s comments came during a 2026 Winter Olympics event in Milan, where he spoke about the team’s disappointing season. Ferrari had started the year with hopes of challenging for the title, but those ambitions faded well before summer.

Heading into the final three rounds of the season, Ferrari sit fourth in the constructors’ standings, having dropped from second after their disastrous weekend in Brazil. The team recorded their second double DNF of the year, with both cars out within just 38 laps.

Lewis Hamilton described his time at Ferrari as a “nightmare” following his retirement from the race due to damage sustained in a collision with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. Charles Leclerc was also forced to retire after being caught up in an incident between McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Ferrari say John Elkann’s remarks were intended to motivate, not criticise

Hamilton is still waiting for his first podium as a Ferrari driver after 21 races, having joined from Mercedes this season. All seven of the team’s podium finishes have come from Leclerc, but Ferrari remain the only team in the top four without a victory this year.

Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

Elkann reportedly called team principal Fred Vasseur following the double DNF in Sao Paulo, which may have contributed to his comments that appeared directed more at Hamilton. However, Ferrari are privately suggesting a different motive behind what was said.

BBC Sport’s F1 correspondent Andrew Benson reported on the Chequered Flag podcast that Ferrari had briefed him on why Elkann spoke up. He was told it was “intended as a spur to drive people on.” Meanwhile, Ferrari trail Mercedes by 36 points for second place in the teams’ standings.

Ferrari’s 2025 car is the cause of Lewis Hamilton’s ‘nightmare’ that sparked John Elkann’s outburst

This year started with expectations from Vasseur that Ferrari would challenge McLaren for the constructors’ championship. They finished just 14 points short of McLaren in 2024. But this season hasn’t come close to meeting those hopes, with McLaren wrapping up the title six races early and holding a 394-point lead over Ferrari with three races left.

It makes sense then that Hamilton would be frustrated about not having made it onto an F1 podium during his time at Ferrari so far – especially when their main problems still haven’t been solved.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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