Ferrari chairman had delivered explosive remarks following the double DNF at Interlagos, urging his drivers to “focus on driving more and talk less” — words that quickly made headlines around the world.

Asked to comment on Elkann’s words, Vasseur believes the chairman intended to send a positive message and motivate the team, even if the negative Las Vegas result was linked to other factors.

"For sure he wants to push the team to do better, to do a better job, to work as a team and so on, and this we have to take as a positive message and a supportive message," the Frenchman said. "For sure it was a difficult weekend, but it has nothing to do with this; it's more of a technical matter."

The seven-time world champion hit a new low in his first season with Ferrari, qualifying twentieth and last in Las Vegas.

The Brit then managed a solid recovery in the race, climbing into the points with a tenth-place finish, but that didn’t stop him from calling the 2025 season the worst of his career. With two races remaining, the Brit is still without a podium, his only highlights this season being the sprint pole and sprint victory in China at the start of the year.