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Button criticized Elkann after the Ferrari president blamed Hamilton and Leclerc for Ferrari’s Brazil woes, calling him out to lead by example as drivers call for unity.
Ferrari are in shambles currently, as snide remarks fly all over (X)
Jenson Button has fired a pointed shot at Ferrari president John Elkann, after the Italian marque’s chief publicly criticised Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the wake of a nightmare weekend in Brazil.
Following Ferrari’s double DNF at the São Paulo Grand Prix, Elkann took the unusual step of singling out his star drivers, claiming they “need to focus on driving and talk less.”
The outburst came as Ferrari slumped to fourth in the constructors’ standings, trailing Mercedes by 36 points with three races remaining.
Speaking in Rome, Elkann praised his engineers and mechanics for their work but implied his drivers hadn’t delivered.
“If we look at the rest, it is not up to scratch,” Elkann said. “And we definitely have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less because we still have important races ahead of us, and getting second place is not impossible.”
The remarks drew widespread criticism across the paddock — and none more direct than from 2009 world champion Jenson Button.
Responding to a Sky Sports F1 Instagram post quoting Elkann’s comments, Button bluntly replied:
“Maybe John should lead by example.”
The comment quickly went viral, with fans praising Button for calling out Elkann’s leadership style. Many accused the Ferrari president of deflecting blame from management and morale issues within the team, which has struggled with consistency all season.
Button’s remarks came just days after announcing his full retirement from motorsport following his final World Endurance Championship appearance in Bahrain.
Meanwhile, both Hamilton and Leclerc have chosen to stay diplomatic.
Leclerc, who retired on lap six after an opening-lap collision in Brazil, urged unity, stating, “It’s uphill from now, and it’s clear that only unity can help us turn that situation around in the last three races.”
Hamilton echoed that sentiment with his own statement:
“It’s gutting, but we will move on. I back my team. I back myself. I will not give up. Not now, not ever.”
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
November 12, 2025, 20:19 IST
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