Hamilton and Leclerc address Ferrari chairman’s criticism after Brazil GP

November 11, 2025 Oliver Obel

SÃO PAULO, Nov 10 — Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have spoken publicly for the first time since Ferrari chairman John Elkann criticised both drivers following their disappointing performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend.

According to BBC Sport and F1TV, Ferrari endured a chaotic race at Interlagos, with both cars failing to finish — marking their second double retirement of the season.

Costly double exit

Leclerc’s race ended early after a collision involving Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli. Contact with Antonelli damaged his front suspension beyond repair, forcing him to retire within the opening laps.

Hamilton’s afternoon unraveled soon after. The seven-time world champion tangled with Carlos Sainz at the first corner before colliding with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto on the pit straight. The resulting front wing and floor damage left his car struggling for grip, and he eventually retired on lap 38.

Despite earning six points between them in the sprint race — Leclerc finishing fifth and Hamilton seventh — the main Grand Prix proved another major setback for Ferrari’s bid for second in the Constructors’ Championship.

Elkann loses patience

Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who personally led the effort to sign Hamilton ahead of this season, voiced unusually blunt criticism after the race.

Speaking at an Olympics sponsorship event on Monday, Elkann said:

“We definitely have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less because we still have important races, and getting second place is not impossible.

At Bahrain, we won the World Endurance Championship title. When Ferrari is united, we get results.”

According to BBC Sport, Elkann’s remarks were intended as a constructive spur to improve. Even so, many fans of Hamilton and Leclerc reacted sharply online, viewing the comments as unusually harsh from the normally reserved Ferrari chairman.

It’s not the first time Ferrari leadership has called for unity after a difficult weekend — but Elkann’s timing, with just three races left in the season, added an unmistakable sense of urgency.

Drivers keep their cool

Neither Hamilton nor Leclerc addressed Elkann’s words directly, but both shared calm messages of determination afterward.

Hamilton posted on X.

“I back my team. I back myself. I will not give up. Not now, not then, not ever. Thank you, Brazil, always.”

Leclerc, meanwhile, wrote on Instagram:

“A very difficult weekend in Sao Paulo. 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.

It’s uphill from now and it’s clear that only unity can help us turn that situation around in the last three races. We’ll give it all, as always.”

The drivers’ responses reflected composure rather than confrontation — emphasizing teamwork at a moment when internal pressure at Maranello appears to be intensifying.

Eyes on Las Vegas

Ferrari now turns its focus to the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend. The team trails Mercedes by 36 points in the Constructors’ standings, with every result crucial in the final stretch of the season.

With only three races left, Ferrari’s fight for second place — and its pursuit of renewed stability under Elkann’s watch — remains one of the key storylines in the closing stages of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Sources: BBC Sport, F1TV, Reuters