Ferrari justify President Elkann's comments

      The words of Ferrari president John Elkann, directed at the Scuderia's drivers after the São Paulo Grand Prix, provoked a mixed reaction in the racing world.

      Recall that Elkann literally said the following: “Our drivers need to think more about driving and talk less.” The response from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton came fairly quickly – both drivers posted messages on social media expressing support for the team.

      The Italian press believes that Elkann's words were mainly aimed at Lewis Hamilton, whose results so far are below those of his teammate.

      However, Elkann's harsh remark was not to everyone's liking. 2009 world champion Jenson Button, commenting on the Ferrari president's words on social media, wrote the following: “Maybe John should set an example.” That message drew largely positive reactions from fans.

      In turn, the Italian team's press office tried to soften their president's words. In comments to ESPN a Ferrari representative said that Elkann's comments were “constructive,” and that he simply wanted to encourage everyone.

      At the same time, ESPN noted that this was a “rather indulgent interpretation of Elkann's public statement, which came across as uncertainty or arrogance (or a terrible combination of both) from the head of a company that has not won a drivers' title since 2007 and the constructors' championship since 2008. His words revealed the same unwarranted top-down interference that has plagued the team before and after the glorious days of Michael Schumacher.”