Ferrari Chairman Urges Hamilton and Leclerc: Focus on Driving, Talk Less

Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, has urged drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to concentrate on their driving rather than engage in discussions following a disappointing performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Both drivers faced challenges that culminated in failures to finish the race, reflecting an overall difficult season for the Ferrari team.

Ferrari’s Current Standing

After the Sao Paulo incident, Ferrari fell to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. The team originally aimed to be competitive for the title this year but now trails significantly behind leaders Red Bull and Mercedes. Currently, Ferrari is 394 points away from the constructors’ champions with only three races remaining this season.

Performance Challenges

Elkann spoke at an event organized by the Italian Olympic Committee, highlighting the contrast between the team’s mechanics and engineers and their drivers. He praised the mechanics’ efficiency, especially in pit stops, while noting areas where performance has not met expectations:

• Drivers need to communicate less and drive more effectively.
• There remains an opportunity to improve standings, despite the challenges faced.

Race Details: Sao Paulo Grand Prix

In Brazil, Leclerc’s race ended abruptly after he collided with Kimi Antonelli during a restart, losing a front wheel. Meanwhile, Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this season, has struggled to find podium finishes and is behind Leclerc in qualifying results.

• Hamilton: 16-5 loss versus Leclerc in head-to-head qualifying.
• Leclerc was involved in a collision that forced him to retire from the race.

Driver Reflections

Hamilton expressed his frustrations over the challenges he has encountered this season. He remarked on his struggle to adapt and the stark contrast between the dream of racing for Ferrari and the sobering reality of their race results:

• “This is a nightmare, I’ve been living it for a while,” Hamilton stated to Sky Sports F1.
• He remains committed to improving, stating he will continue training and working with the team.

Upcoming Races

As the season progresses, the Formula 1 title race is set to continue with the Las Vegas Grand Prix from November 21-23. Teams aim to recover before heading into the final stretch of the season.