After the race in Brazil, which was so disappointing from Ferrari’s point of view, John Elkann publicly criticized his two drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. If ex-racing driver Ralf Schumacher has his way, Monegasque in particular shouldn’t simply accept these statements.
Charles Leclerc should go on a confrontation course with Ferrari, says Ralf Schumacher after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“If I were Charles Leclerc, then I would ask the question, what is that about? I think that Leclerc does a top job and gets the best out of the team and himself. He is also a likeable guy who fits right into the Ferrari house. Family man, getting married soon, I would send my manager there and ask what that is about,” said the ex-racing driver on “Sky”.
Schumacher, who competed a total of 180 times in the premier class between 1997 and 2007, drew a comparison to his playing days: “In such a situation, I always came up with a plan B with my manager and I would do that now if I were him, because I wouldn’t let myself be fooled.”
“There’s a fire under the roof”
Ferrari President John Elkann noticeably increased the pressure after his drivers’ zero number in Brazil. The two Ferrari drivers should “drive more and talk less,” Elkann told the Italian media last Monday at a meeting in Rome. The Ferrari president added: “Our mechanics and also the engineers did their job, because the car has obviously improved. The rest was not at the same level.”
According to Schumacher, the statements were “consciously placed” and “very seriously meant”: “You know John Elkann like that, it wasn’t flippant at all, but there is a fire under the roof. The expectation is great and logically he has also made some decisions, such as the signing of Lewis Hamilton, which are now putting him under pressure internally and that’s why such a statement is now being made.”
Hamilton had damaged his underbody in Sao Paulo due to an early rear-end collision. The record world champion later received a time penalty for this. After the 40-year-old was lapped due to his large gap, the Scuderia gave up his race on the 38th lap.