Ferrari F1 boss tells Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc: Shut up and drive

Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Montreal, 2025 — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

Ferrari boss tells Hamilton and Leclerc: Shut up and drive

Ferrari had a dismal weekend in Brazil

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 10 November 2025 21:10 Updated: 16:47

Ferrari F1 boss John Elkann has issued a clear note to his drivers, possibly taking some inspiration from Rihanna in the process.

The team left the sprint weekend in Brazil with just six points from a possible 58, sliding from second to fourth in the constructors' championship behind both Mercedes and Red Bull.

Article continues under video

Charles Leclerc's main race was ended on lap seven, when a crash between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli ended up with the Monegasque driver also getting hit, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's chances of scoring points were ended on lap one when a collision with Franco Colapinto caused damage to his floor.

Hamilton later also retired from the race on lap 40 having also had to serve a five-second time penalty for the Colapinto incident, and that ensured a point-less grand prix for Ferrari.

Following the race, Elkann spoke to Italian media, and gave a rather damning speech about Ferrari's weekend, while suggesting that Leclerc and Hamilton need to, will, shut up and drive.

"If we look at the rest, it's not up to par. And we certainly have drivers who it's important that they focus on driving and talk less, because we still have important races ahead of us and it's not impossible to get second place."

Using the recent 8 Hours of Bahrain race when Ferrari wrapped up the World Endurance Championship (WEC) title as an example of Ferrari togetherness, Elkann said: "In Bahrain, we won the WEC title. When Ferrari is united, you get results."

Can Ferrari claim second?

Ferrari are now four points behind Red Bull despite the Milton Keynes-based outfit largely fighting with one driver for much of the 2025 season, and Ferrari also find themselves 36 points behind second-place Mercedes.

With three race weekends remaining, Hamilton and Leclerc's performances are going to have to be superb in order for the team to close that gap to a consistent Mercedes team.

Hamilton is yet to score a grand prix podium in 2025 since joining Ferrari, and is sat down in sixth in the drivers' championship.

Leclerc's results have been much better, and he has been able to extract the maximum performance out of the SF-25, but even he is only in fifth in the drivers' standings, 66 points ahead of Hamilton.

The team will be desperate to finish as high up as possible in the 2025 constructors' championship, before attention switches to 2026 where wholesale regulation changes are sweeping into the sport.

Formula 1