Source: REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
[Saba Sports News] After the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Ferrari team found itself in another slump. Team Chairman John Elkann publicly stated that the team’s current performance is below standard and suggested that Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton talk less and focus more on driving to rebuild internal cohesion. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Ferrari suffered a double DNF (Did Not Finish). Leclerc was involved in a three-car collision shortly after the start, forcing him to retire early. Hamilton was hit by Carlos Sainz on the first lap and later collided with Alpine driver Franco Colapinto while attempting an overtake, causing severe damage to his front wing and floor. Although he persisted until the middle stage of the race, he was ultimately forced to retire due to the car’s extreme instability. Although in the Sprint race, Leclerc finished fifth and Hamilton seventh, bringing six points back for the Ferrari team, the double DNF in the main race caused the Ferrari team to drop to fourth place in the constructors’ championship standings. Their total points are now even less than those of the Red Bull team, which is largely supported single-handedly by Max Verstappen. In response, internal team sources indicated that Elkann’s statement was intended more to motivate the team rather than being personal criticism. As the season draws to a close, the Ferrari team needs to rediscover trust and focus to reverse their decline in the championship standings.