Shut Up And Drive? Ferrari President Tells Hamilton, Leclerc To 'Focus On Driving, Talk Less'

Last Updated:November 10, 2025, 20:40 IST

John Elkann urged Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to focus on driving after Ferrari's double DNF at the Brazil GP, as the team dropped to fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (AFP)

Ferrari president John Elkann has delivered a sharp message to Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, urging the star duo to “focus on driving and talk less" after a disastrous weekend at the São Paulo Grand Prix left the team reeling.

Both Ferraris failed to finish the race, a double DNF that summed up the team’s faltering 2025 Formula One campaign.

Hamilton, enduring a torrid first season with the Scuderia, described the experience as “a nightmare."

“I’ve been living it now for a while," said the seven-time world champion. “It’s been a flip between living the dream of driving for Ferrari and the nightmare of the results we’ve had."

Hamilton battled damage and penalties before being retired after 40 laps, while Leclerc was eliminated on lap six after a collision he could do little to avoid.

The result saw Ferrari slip from second to fourth in the constructors’ standings, intensifying internal pressure with just three races left in the season.

Speaking at a sponsorship event for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Elkann made it clear he expects his drivers to regain focus and unity.

“It is important that our drivers focus on their driving and talk less," Elkann said, as quoted by AGI Agency. “There are still important races left, and it is not impossible to achieve second place in the constructors’ championship."

The Ferrari chief pointed to the company’s recent World Endurance Championship title as a model of teamwork and discipline. “That is the demonstration that when Ferrari acts as a team, we win. We need drivers who do not think about themselves, but about Ferrari," he said pointedly.

With the team heading to Las Vegas next, Hamilton and Leclerc will be expected to deliver.

(with AFP inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

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News sports Shut Up And Drive? Ferrari President Tells Hamilton, Leclerc To 'Focus On Driving, Talk Less'

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