ELKANN SHOULD TALK LESS AND MAYBE LEAD BY EXAMPLE?
Ferrari is not just another team on the F1 grid. It is the most successful, most iconic, and most emotionally charged brand the sport has ever known. Expectations are not high — they are astronomical. So when Elkann launched his candid comments about the Scuderia’s performance, it wasn’t just frustration bubbling out. It was the voice of a chairman who sees a legendary team slipping below its own standards, and he’s done waiting for things to improve naturally.
His words weren’t wrapped in fancy PR packaging. They were simple, pointed, and very clear: Ferrari has the ingredients to win, but not everyone is performing at the level required to make that happen.
For a team welcoming the greatest driver in F1 history — Lewis — it’s an especially crucial moment. And Elkann’s message sends shockwaves not just through Maranello, but through a global fanbase desperate to see Lewis fight for victories again.
What Elkann Actually Said — And Why It Matters
Speaking at an event ahead of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Elkann didn’t hold back when addressing Ferrari’s current performance in Formula 1 — especially with the very real possibility that the team could go winless again this season.
He praised Ferrari’s mechanics and engineers but pointed directly at the areas he believes are failing. And when discussing the painful double-DNF in Brazil, he contrasted F1’s struggles with Ferrari’s triumphant success in endurance racing.
In his own words:
“Ferrari wins when it is united, as the WEC results have shown us.”
“Brazil was a huge disappointment.”
“The rest is not up to par.”
“We have drivers who need to focus on driving, talk less…”
“When Ferrari is a team, we win.”
These are not throwaway remarks. They are a very public shake-up from the most powerful person in the Ferrari empire.
For Lewis, now deep into his first season in red, these comments drop at a delicate time. He has been honest about the challenges of adapting to life at Ferrari, but he’s also been patient, constructive, and surprisingly calm for someone with his competitive fire. Yet Elkann’s words undoubtedly place new pressure on both drivers, especially when he says they should “talk less.”
But is that fair — or is Ferrari missing the bigger picture?
The Purpose Behind Elkann’s Words
To understand the force behind Elkann’s comments, you need to compare Ferrari’s two racing worlds: Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Ferrari’s Hypercar programme has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 499P has dominated Le Mans three years in a row, and Ferrari has already claimed the WEC Manufacturers’ Championship. The team, run in partnership with AF Corse, is unified, confident, and delivering consistent performance at the highest level.
In F1, meanwhile, Ferrari hasn’t won a title of any kind in 17 long years. In that time, the team has seen champions come and go — from Kimi Räikkönen to Fernando Alonso to Sebastian Vettel — and still the drought continues. Even last year’s win from Carlos Sainz feels like a distant memory.
So Elkann’s message isn’t random. It is strategic, almost surgical. He sees a team operating at two completely different levels across its racing programmes. And with the 2026 regulation reset creeping ever closer — the biggest overhaul in decades — Ferrari cannot afford to be disjointed or complacent now.
This is a moment where unity, precision, and consistent leadership matter more than ever. And for Lewis, the timing could not be more critical.
Lewis and Leclerc: Are They Really the Problem?
Let’s be clear — if Ferrari’s issues were due to weak drivers, then this analysis would be simple. But they’re not. Ferrari has had world-class talent behind the wheel for over a decade:
Lewis — statistically the greatest driver in F1 history
Charles Leclerc — one of the fastest drivers of his generation
Sebastian Vettel — four-time World Champion
Fernando Alonso — two-time World Champion
Kimi Räikkönen — World Champion and the last Ferrari title winner
This is not a team lacking elite drivers. In fact, Ferrari may have had more superstar drivers in one decade than most teams enjoy in their entire history.
Lewis, in particular, has spoken openly — and refreshingly — about the challenges of adapting to Ferrari after such a long and storied career with Mercedes. But through 21 races he has never once thrown the team under the bus. He has shown patience, empathy, and professionalism, choosing to focus on what he can improve rather than who he should blame.
Leclerc has shown similar maturity. Even during frustrating weekends, he remains optimistic, positive, and supportive — a true team player who wants to lead Ferrari back to the front.
So when Elkann says the drivers need to “talk less,” it naturally raises eyebrows.
Because from the outside, the drivers are the ones showing restraint. The real noise around Ferrari comes not from Lewis or Leclerc, but from the swirl of leaks, rumours, and critiques that constantly bubble around the team.
Perhaps, instead of telling the drivers to speak less, the team should look at how much noise escapes from Maranello itself.
Lessons From Alpine — And A Warning
Elkann’s comments immediately reminded many fans of Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi’s infamous public criticism of his team in 2023. Rossi blasted his F1 squad for underperformance and operational mistakes — comments so severe that he was replaced just two months later.
Public criticism can motivate. But it can also shatter morale. It depends on timing, tone, and whether the people receiving the criticism feel supported or attacked.
Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur has recently received both a contract extension and public words of support from Elkann. Yet now the chairman has openly criticised areas of the team again. That suggests that pressure is building — and the top boss is running out of patience.
In the era of Lewis and Leclerc, Ferrari must be extremely careful with how it delivers internal messages. Because if this “criticise-to-inspire” approach doesn’t work, it risks creating cracks instead of unity. And unity is something Ferrari desperately needs if the 2026 car is going to deliver the performance everyone is praying for.
The Heart of Ferrari’s Struggles
When you look beyond the headlines, the heart of Elkann’s message is simple: Ferrari can win — but only if everyone is aligned.
The mechanics are performing brilliantly. The pit crew remain the fastest in the sport. The engineers are working tirelessly on development. The drivers — Lewis especially — have shown maturity and leadership. So where is the weakness? Most fans would argue it's not talent — it’s structure.
Ferrari has long struggled with internal pressure, politics, and a tendency to shift blame rather than build long-term stability. Champions don’t thrive in chaos. They thrive in systems that are consistent, united, and laser-focused. Red Bull has that. Mercedes had that. McLaren is building that. Ferrari must rediscover it.
What This Means For Lewis
This season has not been the dream opening chapter most of us expected for Lewis at Ferrari. But the foundation is there. He’s adapting well. He’s committed. And he continues to approach each race weekend with determination and positivity.
Lewis has been through every kind of championship battle imaginable — domination, heartbreak, controversy, redemption. And he has always emerged stronger. If Ferrari can deliver him a unified team and a competitive car, Lewis will do the rest. Elkann’s comments may sting, but they could also spark the fire Ferrari needs.
The Road To 2026: The Most Important Reset In A Generation
Everything happening right now is about more than this season. More than a winless streak. More than frustration. It is about the 2026 car.
The new power units, aero rules, and chassis philosophy represent a once-in-a-generation chance to start fresh. And Ferrari cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Because if they do, they risk another decade of “almosts.”
Lewis joined Ferrari for this exact moment — to be part of a rebirth, not a repeat. Elkann’s message, harsh as it may be, is a reminder that Ferrari feels the urgency too.
The Final Cliché — And A Better Path Forward
Elkann closed with criticism meant to inspire — but that approach is a gamble. If it works, Ferrari could unify into a powerful, unstoppable force just in time for 2026. If it backfires, the team could fracture under pressure.
There’s another cliché he might want to keep in mind:
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Ferrari doesn’t need fear. It needs belief. It needs unity. It needs stability. And with Lewis and Leclerc as its driving force, the team has the perfect foundation for a new golden era — if everyone works together. Ferrari has all the tools to return to the top of Formula 1. Now it’s up to them to use them.
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