Ferrari chairman John Elkann says Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton must “give attention to driving and speak much less” in a shock criticism of the Ferrari Components 1 drivers.
Talking after a double DNF for Ferrari on the Brazil Grand Prix, which resulted within the Maranello outfit slipping from second to fourth within the constructors' standings, whereas the Italian producer sealed each WEC producers' and drivers' titles within the Bahrain finale, Elkann gave his evaluation.
“We gained the endurance world titles in Bahrain, and it was a unprecedented feeling. Successful each the constructors' and drivers' championships exhibits that when Ferrari is united, when everybody works collectively, we will obtain actually nice issues,” he instructed Sky Sports Italy.
“Brazil was a giant disappointment. Trying on the Components 1 championship, we will say that we've our mechanics, who're mainly successful the championship with their efficiency and every thing that has been achieved on the pitstops. Our engineers have undoubtedly improved the automotive. However in terms of the remainder, it's nonetheless lower than par.
“And certainly we've drivers who must give attention to driving and speak much less. We nonetheless have vital races forward of us, and it's not unimaginable to attain second place [in the constructors]. That is crucial message, as a result of Bahrain itself is the demonstration that, when everybody at Ferrari work collectively, we win.”
Heading into the Brazil GP weekend, Ferrari sat second within the constructors' standings. A combined dash qualifying left Leclerc and Hamilton beginning the dash race from eighth and eleventh, respectively.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Anni Graf – Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
Whereas the drivers have been capable of convert this into fifth and seventh-place finishes, it was not sufficient to maintain Mercedes at bay because the Brackley outfit overtook Ferrari within the standings with second and third-place finishes.
Sadly for the Scuderia group, the weekend continued to deteriorate. Leclerc began the race from third on the grid however finally retired after a conflict with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri. Hamilton, who began from thirteenth, additionally retired because of injury sustained from early collisions with Williams's Carlos Sainz and Alpine's Franco Colapinto.
The double DNF, mixed with a powerful drive from Crimson Bull's Max Verstappen from the pitlane to 3rd, positioned Ferrari fourth within the standings by the tip of the weekend.
Hamilton was notably damning in his reflection of the weekend. “It is a nightmare,” he instructed Sky Sports activities F1 after the race. “I have been residing it for some time. The flip between the dream of driving for this superb group after which the nightmare of the outcomes that we have had.
“The ups and downs. It is difficult. Tomorrow I will get again up. I will preserve coaching. I will preserve working with the group. I actually needed to get them good factors this weekend however I will come again as robust as I can within the subsequent race and attempt to recuperate.”
With three rounds remaining, the battle for second within the constructors' championship is tight with 36 factors separating Mercedes, Crimson Bull and Ferrari.
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