Told to spend less time talking, Ferrari drivers take to social media in reaction to Ferrari chairman's public criticism.

In the aftermath of a disappointing weekend in Brazil - the team's third point-less race weekend of the season - which saw the Maranello outfit slip to fourth in the standings, Ferrari chairman, John Elkann praised the teams designers, engineers and just about everyone else bar the drivers... and strategists.

"We have drivers who it's important that they focus on driving and talk less," he told Sky Italia, "because we still have important races ahead of us and it's not impossible to get second place. In Bahrain, we won the WEC title. When Ferrari is united, you get results."

Ironically, his talk of a united Ferrari has had quite the opposite effect, with veteran Italian journalist, Leo Turrini, who has enjoyed a hot line to the very heart of the Maranello outfit for decades, was quick to criticise Elkann for his comments.

"Never a moment of joy," he wrote, in reaction to Elkann's claim. "Let's put it that way. Would Montezemolo have ever spoken about Ferrari's drivers the way John Elkann did today? Never. Truly never a joy.

"To sum it up, after a weekend full of mixed emotions for Ferrari fans, the successor to Enzo Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo and Sergio Marchionne does what? He launches a direct attack on Leclerc and Hamilton. Yes, they might have their faults, but you can't pin the failure of an entire F1 season on them.

"If Ferrari hasn't won a drivers' title since 2007 and a constructors' trophy in even longer, then clearly the problem doesn't lie with the 2025 drivers," he continued. "Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have often been the only reason the team even salvaged some points from a disastrous year.

"If Gianni Agnelli's grandson truly believes that the problem at Ferrari is talkative drivers, then at the very least, he needs to change his advisers, consultants, and managers," Turrini's onslaught continued. "Because let's be honest - if since Schumacher and Raikkonen Ferrari hasn't won again, it's certainly not the fault of Alonso, Vettel, Leclerc, or Hamilton. And if they still don't understand that, then we'll truly never win again."

Though not mentioning Elkann or his comments directly, Leclerc took to social media to reflect on the weekend.

"Disappointing to come back home with nearly no points at all for the team in what is a critical moment of the season to fight for the 2nd place in the constructors' championship," he wrote.

"It's uphill from now and it's clear that only unity can help us turn that situation around in the last three races," he added, the call for unity no doubt a nod to the chairman. "We'll give it all, as always."

"In the end, it wasn't the race we wanted," wrote Hamilton on Instagram. "It's gutting, especially after some good progress, but we will move on.

"I back my team. I back myself. I will not give up. Not now, not then, not ever!" he insisted.

Coming next, Elkann sues Sky Italia for $1bn claiming that his comments were deliberately edited and taken out of context to make it appear he was stirring up trouble.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Editor, 16/11/2025 11:39

"Kenji's Australian?

Who ever would've guessed?"

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2. Posted by kenji, 16/11/2025 11:26

"@Ricardo-sanchez....you really do need to calm down and smell the roses. Your comment re 'my style of argument shapes threads'! I very much doubt it and I'm pretty damn sure that the posters on here are more than capable of making up their own minds irrespective of my viewpoints. If they think that my comments are rubbish then they'll say so without any prompting. I do note however your reluctance to disclose your location or nationality! The reason I bring this up again is that it makes it all the more interesting when ones background is taken into account.For example, as an Australian I've got nothing to hide. The big question that i pose for you is, will there be any 'booers' in Las Vegas ? I doubt it but then again my opinion isn't relative hahaha Enjoy your day wherever you are."

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 16/11/2025 1:56

"@Kenji – replying to comments in a shared thread isn’t a ‘self-appointed role’, it’s simply part of the discussion.

The reason I sometimes interject is because your style of argument does tend to shape these threads. The serial insinuation of bizarre unsubstantiated motives, the pseudo-analytic phrasing, the political undertones, the selective hostility toward particular drivers, the double standards and the lack of evidence behind strong claims – all of that affects how conversations unfold. Challenging it fairly and on substance is a reasonable contribution, not an attempt to ‘cleanse’ anything.

Your reply here rather proves the point: none of the points I raised were addressed. The focus shifted straight to personalising it and presenting yourself as the injured party."

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4. Posted by kenji, 16/11/2025 1:53

"@ffracer....Your comments are valid. In my rather long life I've learnt one thing that has more often than not proved true...nothing is ever as it seems. There almost always appears to be alternate viewpoints and opinions that influence perceived reality. Altruism is a diminishing quality and sometimes used to mask the exact opposite. Is that cynical? Yes. That's life. Roll on Las Vegas."

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5. Posted by kenji, 16/11/2025 1:33

"@ Ricardo-sanchez....Your self appointed role of 'official kenji stalker' seems to have lately taken on an elevated element of intensity. I'm duly impressed with your attempt to cleanse the site of alternate opinions. As for the term GOAT, that was not my creation but it is one term that is widely used and I shall continue to use it wherever and whenever I deem appropriate. As for your allegation that I despise both Hamilton and Norris you're totally wrong there. I just reject the introduction of those who abuse their ranking to push, for example, woke policies like 'taking the knee'. There are many other examples but I shall refrain from boring other posters. Have a nice day."

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6. Posted by ffracer, 15/11/2025 16:26

"And, in this current media savy corporate laden sport, Leclerc and Hamilton will post their opinions that are approved by Ferrari, as expected. Their poignant respect and love for their team is genuine as they need each other more than ever for these final races. What an incredibly long season.... together with the Sprint races and main races, it is over double the races 40 years ago. "

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7. Posted by ffracer, 15/11/2025 16:20

"Let's play nice lol.

I truly appreciate the many informed posters on this forum. Although most are more visceral, poignant and efficient than me on my best day, I respect that everyone has their own opinion, whether it differs from mine or not - it's the fact that we can rant on this forum, unlike others, and quickly deduce the true story from the distracting pushed diatribe lol. A compliment to this world wide brutal lot."

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8. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 15/11/2025 2:32

"@Kenji – what stands out in your posts is the asymmetry in the way you interpret drivers’ words and performances.

When a driver you despise - such as Hamilton or Norris - speaks about their struggles, you frame it as faux-humility. Yet when others show the same self-criticism, you take it at face value – or in Piastri’s case - you suggest he is masking his frustration while McLaren subtly works against him! Likewise, when results go against (e.g. Hamilton or Norris), it becomes evidence of deeper flaws. When they go against others, the verdict is noticeably more forgiving, or even redirected at the team instead.

You’ve said you ‘look for real points of interest that others miss’, but an unsupported assertion is just an opinion. And many of your most confident conclusions rest on implication rather than evidence.

Then there is your frequent use of the term “the GOAT”. You invoke it more than anyone else here, but only to diminish it, despite most people accepting that cross-era driver comparisons are largely meaningless.

So, this isn’t about the opinion itself; it’s about a consistent style of argument.

And as for the ‘red ink’, I doubt it’s evidence of touching a nerve. More likely just people responding to the pattern. Still, if nothing else, it certainly keeps people busy clicking on that ‘Negative’ link!"

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9. Posted by Spindoctor, 14/11/2025 14:12

"Hamilton & Leclerc are only saying what they must.
I don't doubt the sincerity of their hopes, nor that they'll both continue to do their best to drive Ferrari forward.

"

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10. Posted by kenji, 14/11/2025 13:00

"I like Fred."

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11. Posted by ffracer, 14/11/2025 2:38

"@Chester - in short, I believe them both. They realize that so many great people are affected and they need to further inspire right now.

Further, I totally agree with you and sincerely hope that Fred Vasseur remains TP at Ferrari. He has done so much good for this team, and without drama, that I hope that the talking heads threats will soon be eliminated"

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12. Posted by kenji, 14/11/2025 2:26

"@Chester.....funny that you should mention that.... 'just another brick in the wall'."

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13. Posted by kenji, 14/11/2025 2:20

"@Ricardo-sanchez....I don't write the thread topics....I try desperately hard to avoid personal criticism of fellow posters and to cap it off I try to be consistent and look for real points of interest that may have been missed/distorted in the normal 'rush to judgement'.. Nothing is always as it first presents. The proliferance of 'red ink negative' strikes indicates, most times, when a nerve is touched but despite that everyone gets to express a point of view, an inalienable right in a so called 'free society'. Just accept that and have a very nice day."

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14. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 13/11/2025 19:26

"@Kenji – at least you have a consistent style. The language is always elaborate, the conclusions always absolute, and the target almost always the same driver.

There’s invariably a host of false equivalences thrown in and you couch your hostility in pseudo-analytic language, but I doubt many are fooled. "

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15. Posted by Chester, 13/11/2025 16:05

"@ffracer Do you actually believe it? Words are so easy to say.

My only hope, and it is a hope, is that Vasseur keeps his job. Turnover on a whim is at the root at this feckless team."

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Hamilton and Leclerc react to Elkann criticism

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