In reaction to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Elkaan said at a Stellantis event that Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc should basically keep negative comments about the team's performance out of their media statements, and focus on driving their F1 cars.

He then criticised the pair further, highlighting that the Scuderia had taken strides in all other areas, but that the drivers were not up to par.

Reflecting on Elkann's claims, Steiner said he didn't agree with those statements being made in public. "He is allowed to critique because in the end he’s the boss, but I think he shouldn’t do that in public,” the Italian American stated on the Red Flags podcast.

Suggesting the head of Ferrari's comments on Hamilton were right, he disagreed with the Italian nationalised's view on Leclerc, claiming the situation overall was a sign of poor leadership, particularly since team principal Frederic Vasseur's name escaped the 'strange' public flailing.

“With Lewis, you know, but Charles, the guy puts his heart and soul into this, everything. What more do you want from Charles?,"  Steiner continued.

Steiner then questioned the decision to sign Hamilton would've also had to receive Elkann's approval, in which case the former F1 boss's believes the Ferrari chairman would do well to acknowledge his own hand in the matter, adding that the mixed emotions resulting from the Prancing Horse clinching both WEC titles on the same weekend as they got hit with a double DNF whammy in the F1 Brazilian GP, might have had something to do with his choice of words.

“Also, who decided the drivers? Sometimes you have to look in the mirror. For sure he agreed to hire Lewis, that’s my understanding,” Steiner said.

“Maybe he was a little bit emotional when he said it, they won the [WEC] championship and didn’t even get in the points, both cars dropped out in Brazil, can you imagine how disappointed he was? Maybe he was a bit pissed off,” Steiner concluded.

Steiner has also opnied on the recent form reversal between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, describing it as “very strange.” With three races remaining, Norris leads the championship by 24 points after back-to-back wins, while Piastri hasn’t finished on the rostrum since Italy and hasn’t won since the Dutch Grand Prix.

Steiner noted that what Piastri was doing earlier in the season, Norris is now doing, calling the switch unexpected. Read his full statements here.

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