Ferrari executive Elkann handed advice amid Hamilton and Leclerc criticism

18:43, 17 Nov

Updated: 18:46, 17 Nov

byKada Sarkozi

Former F1 team owner Gian Carlo Minardi has criticized Ferrari executive John Elkann's recent comments on his own team.

"We need management like a family man, not like a court. We need to be less critical externally and much more critical internally."

- Gian Carlo Minardi

Elkann shared his thoughts on Ferrari's performance after the team's double DNF finish at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while the WEC team secured both titles this season.

He previously commented at an event: "We have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less. We still have important races ahead, and securing second place in the Constructors’ Championship isn’t impossible.”

The boss of the former Minardi F1 team has explained that's not how a leader should criticize his squad. He said on the Pit Talk podcast: "A team president must be a good family man. Criticism is made internally, never externally."

He then underlined once again: "We need management like a family man, not like a court. We need to be less critical externally and much more critical internally."

Pundits and analysts have defended Ferrari’s drivers after Elkann’s comments

Since the executive’s comments, multiple figures in the paddock have defended the team’s drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

On Instagram, 2009 world champion Jenson Button wrote: "Maybe John should lead by example."

Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok added on X: "Reflecting on this a bit more… In reality, if the Ferrari was as good as the McLaren this year, then I truly believe that Charles & Lewis would have been title contenders, fighting for race wins.

"The root of Ferrari’s problem is that the car hasn’t been fast enough this year."

Both Hamilton and Leclerc have shared posts since Elkann's comment as well.

Check out the latest episode of GPblog's F1 Paddock Update here!

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.