Ferrari Boss Delivers Brutal Message to Struggling Hamilton
Ferrari chairman John Elkann has issued a stark public rebuke to Lewis Hamilton, bluntly stating that the team's drivers need to 'focus on driving and talking less'. This extraordinary intervention comes directly after the seven-time world champion described his first season with the legendary Italian team as 'a nightmare'.
A Season of Struggle and Public Frustration
The dramatic clash follows a disastrous weekend for the Scuderia at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc failed to finish the race. Hamilton, who made a dream move from Mercedes this year, is a distant sixth in the drivers' championship with only three races remaining in the 2024 season.
Reflecting on the team's ongoing difficulties, Hamilton told Sky Sports, 'This is a nightmare, and I have been living it for a while. The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and the nightmare of the results we have had, the ups and downs, it's challenging.'
Elkann's Verdict: Mechanics are 'Winning the Championship'
In a stark contrast to his driver's public despondency, Elkann used his post-race reflections to single out the team's mechanics and engineers for praise, while taking a clear shot at his star drivers. 'Brazil was a huge disappointment,' Elkann stated via The Times.
He elaborated, 'If we look at the Formula One championship, we can say that our mechanics are winning the championship with their performance... If we look at our engineers, there's no doubt that the car has improved. If we look at the rest, it's not up to par.'
He then delivered his pointed directive, adding, 'And we certainly have drivers who it's important that they focus on driving and talking less, because we still have important races ahead of us.' Elkann remains hopeful the team can still secure second place in the constructors' championship.
The 40-year-old Hamilton has yet to secure a podium finish in his debut season with Ferrari and currently trails teammate Leclerc by 64 points. Despite the immense challenges, the track legend is determined to see out his lucrative £60 million-a-year contract, pinning his hopes for a record-breaking eighth world title on next season's major regulation changes.
Hamilton confirmed his commitment, stating, 'I have a pretty long contract. Normally when you do a contract it is the year out that you start to talk about it, so I am a bit far from that point.' Despite the current 'hardships', he remains optimistic, telling Viaplay, 'I believe there is something extraordinary up ahead in my life and in my destiny.'
