Hill and Herbert Criticize Ferrari's 'Ill-Advised' Driver Rebuke
Ferrari chairman John Elkann's public admonishment of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, telling them to "focus on driving and talk less," has drawn sharp criticism from F1 legends Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert. They deemed the comments "very harsh" and "ill-advised," arguing that such an intervention undermines drivers' critical feedback and highlights deeper issues within the Scuderia's performance and internal management, particularly given the pressure on the team's overall business success.
Ferrari's chairman John Elkann publicly telling drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to "focus on driving and talk less" has been labeled "very harsh" and "ill-advised" by 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill and three-time race winner Johnny Herbert.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's unusual public criticism of its star drivers, especially an incoming seven-time world champion like Lewis Hamilton, highlights deep-seated tensions within the Scuderia. Such interventions can undermine driver morale, hinder constructive feedback, and reflect poorly on a team striving for F1 supremacy, particularly when facing pressure from shareholders and the broader F1 community.
The Details:
- Chairman's Intervention: Ferrari chairman John Elkann publicly called out Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for their critical comments regarding the team's performance, instructing them to "focus on driving and talk less."
- Ex-F1 Drivers' Reaction: Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert strongly criticized Elkann's remarks during their new F1 podcast, 'Stay On Track', deeming them "harsh" and "ill-advised."
- Pressure on Elkann: Hill suggested Elkann's comments likely stem from pressure related to Ferrari's overall business performance, including fluctuating share prices influenced by the F1 team's success.
- Undermining Hamilton: Hill argued that Elkann's statement undermined Hamilton's efforts to provide insights and drive improvements within the team, particularly given Hamilton's experience in successful F1 cultures like Mercedes.
- Hamilton had previously indicated he was actively engaged in discussions with management to improve the team's operations.
- Driver's Role: Herbert emphasized that driver criticism is part of their job, especially for experienced champions like Hamilton, who understand how top-tier teams function.
- Root of the Problem: Both Hill and Herbert agreed that the core issues lie within the factory and engineering, where the team has failed to produce a consistently competitive car, rather than with the drivers' comments.
What's next:
Ferrari's internal dynamics will be under intense scrutiny following this public spat. Resolving the performance issues at the factory level and fostering a more supportive environment for drivers' feedback will be crucial for the team to move forward and capitalize on Hamilton's arrival. Failure to do so could exacerbate tensions and further delay their championship aspirations.