"You might have heard him say that," grumbled Peter Capaldi as the foul-mouthed political advisor Malcolm Tucker in the movie In T...
"You might have heard him say that," grumbled Peter Capaldi as the foul-mouthed political advisor Malcolm Tucker in the movieIn The Loop, "but he did not state that, and it is a fact."
Ferrari's reaction to executive chairman John Elkann's remarks from last week was somewhat more indirect compared to their fictional equivalents, yet it showcased comparable feats in the realm of mental agility.
Elkann commended the Ferrari team that won the World Endurance Championship, honored the mechanics, engineers, and floor sweepers from its F1 squad, and then delivered the blow:Formula 1 racers "should concentrate on driving and speak less". This in the context of a struggling F1 season, most recently –*checks notes*– one driver was removed from the Brazil Grand Prix due to circumstances beyond his control, while the other was instructed to stop his clearly unmanageable car following damage incurred in a collision at the first corner.
Considering this, you can grasp why it would demand a stellar performance in the art of defending the indefensible.
So, Las Vegas on a Wednesday night served as the setting for an impressive display:Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, thoroughly informed to the point of saturation, desperately attempting to highlight the positives without embellishing their statements when the topic inevitably arose.
"I'm consistently ready to reduce my media presence..." Hamilton's initial attempt at humor regarding this was a positive move, but unfortunately did not resonate well in the room.
But no, really, I think, look," he went on, struggling a bit with his words instead of speaking smoothly, "I think we all need to take responsibility within this team and each of us needs to do our part. I know there's so much passion in this team, every single member of it.
I am deeply appreciative of the remarkable dedication each individual at the factory consistently demonstrates week after week. And naturally, being aware that the team isFerrari, there is consistently a significant amount of focus, not always favorable, but we are all completely dedicated to reversing the situation and I am fully committed to supporting this team in rebuilding and expanding.
Each difficulty presents a chance for us to develop and gain knowledge, and I am strongly convinced that we will reach our desired destination.
It was standard and carried a touch of the typical self-help book you could expect to see in an airport bookstore, yet it managed to address the question without truly providing a direct answer, so the task was completed.
It was Leclerc's turn next, and in this case, he faced a disadvantage due to his long-standing relationships with Elkann, rather than simply being recently hired by him.
Yeah, I mean, obviously," he started, struggling to find the right words. "John and I have known each other for many years. We have a strong relationship, and of course, we've been working together for a long time.
"So we are familiar with each other, and I know that John is a highly driven individual who aims to push everyone to their limits to achieve the best possible outcomes. He loves Ferrari, I love Ferrari, everyone loves Ferrari, and we strive to perform at our highest level in every scenario.
And I didn't actually watch the news. John called me beforehand, as he always does after each race to catch up and to share the message he wanted to convey, which was a positive one, stating that yes, we need to improve and that is evident for everyone. So, we are in agreement, and I will do absolutely everything to bring Ferrari back to the top.
Although it must have been satisfying to hear it directly from the source, as it were, Charles was beginning to enter the "you may have heard him say that, but it's not what he actually said" area. And this pattern persisted.
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John has always been extremely truthful with me. And I believe that is quite uncommon. In Formula 2 and Formula 3, it's quite easy to encounter people who are honest with you. However, when you reach Formula 1, your position changes slightly, making it much harder to find individuals who are truly honest with you.
John has always been very truthful with me, and if he believes I or anyone else in the team has made a mistake, he doesn't hesitate to point it out. When he called me, he explained the purpose behind his words.
And that was quite clear. It was a positive message, aiming to be optimistic. No matter how it was conveyed, I can't really comment and it's not my role to do so. However, the intention was positive, and that's what truly matters to me.
Maybe Elkann's confident disregard for his drivers' worth comes from a wish to emulate marque founder Enzo Ferrari, who was famous for looking down on most of his drivers with arrogant superiority.
Enzo Ferrari's demand for performance had a powerful influence that spread throughout the company, and the drivers were no exception," wrote 1961 world champion Phil Hill. "Instead of the race being the result of a team's effort to win, there was a sense that you, the driver, had been reluctantly given this precious machine, this product of brilliance, and hoping your inherent foolishness wouldn't ruin it.
When one of us managed to win, I noticed a certain hesitation from Ferrari in acknowledging the driver, in giving him a pat on the back and expressing gratitude for a job well done. It seemed as though Ferrari viewed the victory as doubly his— not only had he constructed a car superior to all others, but also one that was capable of countering even his driver's inherent tendency to self-destruct.
However, Enzo Ferrari indeed established the company from scratch, and importantly, circumstances have evolved. Grand prix racing has gained a higher degree of worldwide visibility, and the statements and actions of the drivers now have a broader influence.
Ferrari, and by extension Elkann, brought in Hamilton due to his status as a seven-time world champion, which comes with significant marketing appeal. He is still the most prominent figure in F1. It's unlikely that someone of this caliber would be hired and then restricted by a confidentiality agreement – such an action would also be impractical in today's media-rich environment.
Regarding Leclerc, he has endured numerous setbacks at Ferrari, but having to show respect to a person in a suit who should be more knowledgeable is likely to cause quiet resentment.
As for Elkann, perhaps he should concentrate on what he does best and speak less?
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