Lewis Hamilton has passionately defended his commitment to improving Ferrari's performance after receiving pointed criticism from the team's president John Elkann, who suggested the British driver should "focus on driving and talk less".
The Ferrari President's Frustration
The tension within the Scuderia Ferrari camp became public after Hamilton described his debut season with the legendary Italian team as "a nightmare" following another disappointing performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Elkann responded with equal bluntness, delivering his now-famous rebuke that Hamilton should concentrate on his driving duties.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Hamilton maintained that his relationship with Elkann remains "great" but firmly rejected the suggestion that he isn't focusing sufficiently on his driving responsibilities.
Hamilton's Emotional Response
"Not really," Hamilton responded when asked if Elkann's comment was fair. "I wake up thinking about it and I go to sleep thinking about it and I think about it when I'm sleeping. If anything I have to focus on being able to unplug more."
The seven-time world champion revealed that this has been "the busiest year that I think I've had", emphasising his extensive time spent at Ferrari's factory in Maranello. "I've been at the factory more than I think I was at any other factory before," he noted, clearly stung by the implication that his work ethic might be lacking.
Despite his clear frustration, Hamilton demonstrated perspective about the challenges facing Ferrari, acknowledging that transforming the team's fortunes would take considerable time. "I joined this team knowing full well that it takes time to steer a ship in a different direction," he explained. "This is a huge thing, it's a huge organisation. There's so many moving parts, you can't fix it in the click of a finger."
Broader Ferrari Struggles
Hamilton's difficult debut season with Ferrari has seen him fail to secure a single podium finish, leaving him sixth in the drivers' championship and 66 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The Scuderia now sits fourth in the constructors' championship, a disappointing position for motorsport's most storied team.
Leclerc, who was also subject to Elkann's comments, revealed he had spoken with the Ferrari president and understood the remarks weren't intended as criticism but rather reflected Elkann's burning desire to return the team to winning ways.
Hamilton described the emotional toll of Ferrari's ongoing struggles, using powerful imagery to convey his frustration. "It's like we're climbing up a mountain and then you arrive at the weekend and you slip a few steps back or ten steps back and you have to then get back up and try again the next time."
As the Formula One circus arrives in Las Vegas for the 22nd race of the 24-meeting season, there's little indication that Ferrari can expect significant improvement on the challenging street circuit. The cold conditions and low-grip track surface are expected to create difficulties for all teams competing in Nevada.
Meanwhile, Britain's Lando Norris enters the Las Vegas race leading the world championship by 24 points from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and 49 points ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. While Norris cannot clinch the title this weekend, a strong performance could give him a decisive advantage heading into the season's final races.
