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The aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix has sharpened the internal tensions at Ferrari. Chairman John Elkann delivered unusually harsh criticism toward both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The drivers did not respond aggressively, but instead issued a joint statement emphasising unity, team spirit and mutual trust. It was subtle, but unmistakably a pushback. Behind this public exchange lies a deeper story: doubts about Hamilton’s form, frustration over Leclerc’s dependence on an unstable car and a Ferrari culture in which top-down criticism is never without consequence. This analysis reconstructs how the situation escalated and what it reveals about the power structure inside Maranello.
How the Conflict Formed After Brazil
Brazil became a breaking point. Hamilton endured another lacklustre weekend, marked by errors in qualifying, inconsistent long-run pace and dissatisfaction with strategy. Leclerc was closer to the front in raw speed, but once again slipped further behind in the title fight. Ferrari, which set its sights on becoming a consistent challenger this year, was overtaken by McLaren and occasionally even threatened by Mercedes.
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In that climate, Elkann issued a critique that went beyond the usual evaluations. It was not only the car or the strategy under scrutiny. The drivers themselves were targeted. According to Elkann, the entire mentality of the driver pairing had to be sharper, more consistent and more aligned with the ambitions of the team.
Such criticism almost never comes directly from the chairman. When Elkann speaks about sporting matters, it signals that frustration has reached boardroom level. The timing was especially sensitive. Hamilton is enduring a difficult debut season, still searching for rhythm, while Leclerc is trying to maintain his status as a future championship contender. To place both drivers in the same critical sweep felt internally polarising.
The joint statement from Hamilton and Leclerc, stressing that “the team comes first,” was therefore more than polite diplomacy. It signalled that responsibility does not lie with the drivers alone. Anyone reading closely could feel the tension between the sporting reality and the political pressure.
The Ferrari Culture: Who Holds the Power?
Ferrari is unique. In Maranello, the hierarchy is rigid. The chairman sits at the absolute top, followed by the CEO, the team principal and only then the drivers. Elkann does not see himself as a ceremonial figurehead. He sees himself as guardian of the Ferrari identity and expects that identity to be reflected by everyone, including world-class drivers.
In this system, criticism is not a conversation. It is a directive. When the chairman speaks, the organisation listens. That creates a climate in which even seasoned champions must adapt to the internal logic of the company.
For Hamilton, this dynamic is unfamiliar. At Mercedes, he operated within a structure largely built around him, where feedback was handled internally and with discretion. At Ferrari, criticism becomes part of the public narrative.
For Leclerc, the pressure is different. He has been part of the Ferrari family for years, from the Driver Academy to his current role as team leader. That makes Elkann’s comments more personal. They touch not only on performance but on loyalty. Historically, Ferrari has often used its drivers as focal points during moments of crisis, and Leclerc knows that history well. His calm but controlled response reflected that awareness.
Hamilton’s Position: A Dream Turning Into Pressure
Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari with a symbolic mission, hoping to end his career at the sport’s most iconic team. But the reality of 2024–2025 has been harsher. The car is inconsistent, the expectations enormous and every moment of weakness becomes magnified. The early phase of his Ferrari career feels more like survival than progression.
Elkann’s comments struck a nerve because they felt personal. Hamilton knows his status in the sport can no longer shield him from scrutiny. In Italy, dips in form are immediately tied to age, motivation or pressure. That widens the gap between him and the leadership, even if he never expresses that publicly. The key question in the paddock is whether Ferrari will allow him the time he needs to build the project or whether the team will look elsewhere more quickly.
Leclerc Between Loyalty and Self-Preservation
Leclerc finds himself in a precarious position. He is the face of the team, the driver meant to carry Ferrari into the future and the anchor of the 2026 project. But every internal crisis reflects directly onto him. If Elkann doubts the drivers, he implicitly doubts Leclerc’s leadership.
His relationship with Hamilton, though professional, is inevitably delicate. The signing of a seven-time champion is both an opportunity and a threat. In good times, the pairing can raise Ferrari’s level. In difficult times, Leclerc cannot escape shared criticism. His measured response to Elkann’s comments was designed to show that he refuses to be used as a pawn in internal politics.
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