Lewis Hamilton Fires Back at Ferrari Chairman John Elkann: “Not Now, Not Then, Not Ever”
The tension within Ferrari continues to escalate following a disappointing performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite moments of promise earlier in the season, the team once again found themselves battling frustration and missed opportunities at Interlagos — and this time, the fallout reached the very top of the Scuderia hierarchy.
After a difficult race that saw both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fail to finish, Ferrari chairman John Elkann publicly criticised his drivers, suggesting they needed to “talk less and focus more” on racing. But Hamilton, never one to stay silent, has now issued a strong response, defending both his performance and his commitment to the team.
The seven-time world champion’s race unraveled early on after he clipped the rear of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine. The contact caused floor damage that severely impacted his car’s handling and performance. Despite the setback, Hamilton pushed through for 38 laps before Ferrari eventually retired his car.
Speaking to reporters after the race, Hamilton chose not to assign blame or express frustration. Instead, he focused on the team’s collective effort and his admiration for their resilience.
“It’s a shame because I love Brazil, and everyone in this team,” he said. “Every single person in this team turns up every week and gives it their absolute best. We win together, we lose together.”
His diplomatic tone, however, stood in stark contrast to Elkann’s comments just days later. During an address at the Italian Olympic Committee event ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the Ferrari chairman made a pointed statement about the team’s Formula 1 campaign.
“If we look at the season in F1, we can say we have mechanics who are winning the championship with the performances they’re putting in, particularly with everything they are doing in our pit stops,” Elkann remarked. “But our drivers need to concentrate more — to talk less and focus on results.”
The remarks sparked immediate debate among fans and pundits, many of whom saw Elkann’s statement as a thinly veiled criticism of Hamilton and Leclerc. The timing also raised eyebrows, coming just after a weekend where Ferrari’s reliability and strategy were again called into question.
Hamilton, responding to Elkann’s comments, reportedly told team insiders, “Not now, not then, not ever,” emphasizing his refusal to accept unfair criticism or be distracted from his work. Sources close to the British driver say he remains fully committed to Ferrari’s long-term project and is determined to bring the team back to championship contention.
For Ferrari, this public friction is the latest chapter in what has become a turbulent season marked by inconsistency and internal tension. While the mechanics and engineers have been praised for their efficiency and speed — particularly during pit stops — results on track have failed to reflect the team’s hard work.
With only a few races remaining in the 2025 season, Hamilton’s defiant response may serve as both a warning and a rallying cry. His message is clear: criticism from above won’t break his focus or his belief in Ferrari’s potential. Whether Elkann and Hamilton can find common ground moving forward, however, remains to be seen.
