FERRARI’S biggest PR NIGHTMARE yet!

What’s really going on at Maranello

Ferrari is in the middle of a storm that goes well beyond on-track performance. A routine Instagram post celebrating a 20-year partnership with Puma exploded into a social media revolt, with more than 90% of the comments demanding #ElkannOut. The trigger was a public remark from Ferrari chairman John Elkann suggesting that some people at the team “need to focus on driving and talk less.” That line landed like a live grenade among fans and has exposed deeper frustrations about leadership, culture, and results.

How the season spiralled

Expectations were sky-high after the team signed a seven-time world champion. Instead of a championship push, the season has been punctuated by errors, penalties, and retirements. Early on, a double disqualification in China cost Ferrari 18 vital points when Leclerc’s car was found underweight and Hamilton’s car failed a skid block check. From there the results never recovered — a run of average finishes, multiple retirements in the Netherlands, and another double DNF in Sao Paulo.

The numbers make the picture stark. After 22 rounds the team slipped to fourth in the standings. Neither driver has won a race this year. Charles Leclerc has seven podiums; Lewis Hamilton has none. For a driver earning top-tier money and expected to deliver both performance and development guidance, zero podiums is a glaring statistic.

Drivers under pressure — and not just from fans

There is mounting evidence that the drivers are feeling undermined. Lewis Hamilton has openly expressed frustration, calling the season a “nightmare” and saying he has been “living it for a while.” On-board radio snippets leave little doubt that the car is not doing what he needs and that communication between driver and team is strained.

Juan Pablo Montoya summed up a common theory: Hamilton feels he is giving more to Ferrari than the team gives back. That tension shows in averages too: Leclerc’s average finish sits around 6.0, Hamilton around 7.4. For context, Carlos Sainz posted a 5.65 average in 2024 — numbers that underline where expectations and reality diverge.

Leadership and culture: the story behind the headlines

Criticism is not only coming from tifosi. Italian press and former insiders point to deeper structural issues. Carlo Vanzini of Sky Italia urged silence and regrouping from the entire team, management included. Fred Vasseur, when asked about Ferrari’s extended drought, suggested the team had changed everything — principals, drivers, direction — except one constant. Many interpreted that to mean ownership or the boardroom decisions that shape long-term culture.

That context matters because the problems are not purely technical. A culture that discourages open feedback or that pits drivers against management will compound even the best engineering work. Fans on Reddit and social platforms are blunt: if multiple world champions cannot extract consistent performance from the machinery, perhaps the fault lines lie higher up than the cockpit.

Why the reaction feels so visceral

Ferrari is not just a racing team; it is a symbol. The weight of expectation is enormous. The last constructors’ title came in 2008 and the last drivers’ crown was in 2007. That drought—now approaching two decades—transforms each poor weekend into part of a continuing, painful narrative for fans who expect Maranello to lead the grid every season.

When a chairman publicly criticizes the drivers, the blow lands twice: it questions the individuals on track and it signals a management approach that seemingly prefers public sharp words to private problem solving. For those who live and breathe the red, that looks like betrayal as much as it does failure.

Realistic short-term options and the long game

At this stage of the year a wholesale turnaround is unlikely. The technical group has shifted much of its energy toward the 2026 rule cycle, which will reset a number of performance variables across the grid. In the short term, the sensible objective is damage limitation: stabilise the car, sharpen race execution, and rebuild trust internally.

Longer term, Ferrari must examine governance and culture. Teams that re-establish winning momentum do three things well: they empower engineers and drivers to speak openly, they prioritise consistent technical direction, and they back that with coherent leadership decisions that extend beyond quarterly PR gains. If those boxes are not checked, upgrades and track fixes will only paper over cracks.

What to watch next

• Media day reactions will be telling. How the drivers and management present a united front will indicate whether internal rifts are being addressed or glossed over.

  

• Technical updates at a race weekend. Small package improvements can show whether the engineering department can still extract gains under pressure.
• Boardroom signals. Any public acknowledgement of structural reviews or governance changes will be an important barometer for fans and sponsors alike.

FAQ

Why are fans demanding Elkann step down?

The demand stems from a mix of frustration with long-term results and a recent public comment from John Elkann that suggested drivers should “talk less.” For many supporters this highlighted a disconnect between leadership and the racing team, and it reinforced perceptions that the same figures have overseen underperformance for too long.

Has Ferrari won recently?

Ferrari last won the constructors’ championship in 2008 and the drivers’ title in 2007. The team is currently enduring an extended winless run that ranks among the longer droughts in its history.

Is Lewis Hamilton likely to leave?

Public comments indicate frustration, but departures depend on complex contract, performance, and strategic factors. Hamilton’s concerns about support and communication are real, and if those issues persist, a contract review or strategic reassessment would be expected at season’s end.

Can Ferrari recover this season?

A full recovery to championship contention is unlikely this season. Practical goals are to stabilise performance, improve reliability, and prepare a robust development pathway toward the 2026 regulations where a reset could open fresh opportunities.

What would meaningful change look like?

Meaningful change would combine clear technical direction, stronger internal communication, and leadership choices that prioritise long-term competitiveness over short-term optics. That means empowering engineers and drivers, aligning development priorities, and addressing any governance issues that hinder decisive action.

Final thoughts

The headlines are loud, and the anger is real. But beyond the noise there is a clear path back: admit where the problems lie, fix the process, and rebuild trust inside and outside the garage. Ferrari is capable of dramatic comebacks, but recovery requires more than parts and setups. It needs leadership that unites the team and a culture that values performance as much as pedigree.