Lewis Hamilton said he would not give up, while Charles Leclerc stressed the importance of “unity” at Ferrari, and the Scuderia’s drivers each gave a shout-out as the team looks to the end of the 2025 season.
The Ferrari team-mates’ posts on Monday evening came hours after Ferrari chairman John Elkann, the final boss of the famous Italian brand, said it was important for drivers to “focus on driving and talk less” if the team, which fell from second to fourth in the constructors’ championship after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, is to finish the season on a high note.
Mr Elkann’s comments were made in an interview in which he praised the team’s mechanics and engineers, but also cited the company’s achievement in winning the World Endurance Championship title, a accolade won last Saturday in Bahrain, which he said showed “when Ferrari is united we can get results”.
It’s common for both Hamilton and Leclerc to post their thoughts on the race weekend on their respective social media accounts the day after a race, but their messages on Monday night seemed to have special meaning.
Leclerc was the first to post, and his comments echoed Elkann’s sentiments for unity.
“It was a very difficult weekend in São Paulo,” he wrote in X.
“It’s disappointing that the team went home with almost no points at such a crucial stage in the season when we were fighting for second place in the constructors’ championship.
“It’s an uphill climb from now on, but it’s clear that only unity can help us turn things around with three races left. As always, we’ll give our best.”
After retiring from Sunday’s race, Hamilton, who previously described a difficult first season with Ferrari as a “nightmare” due to poor results, posted on Instagram: “In the end it wasn’t the race we wanted. Disappointed, especially after making good progress, but we move on.”
“I support the team. I support myself. I will not give up.
“Now, then, and forever.”
Ferrari suffered its second double DNF of the season at Interlagos, with Leclerc and Hamilton suffering damage in separate accidents early in the race.
Leclerc retired on the sixth lap when he was running third after colliding with Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli, sending the latter’s Mercedes into a Ferrari, while Hamilton ultimately retired due to damage sustained when he hit the rear of Franco Colapinto’s Alpine on the first lap.
The costly result left Ferrari 36 points behind Mercedes and four points behind Red Bull in the battle for second place in the favored teams standings, with three weeks left in the race weekend.
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Hamilton suffered a broken bone in Brazil after suffering damage, early pit stop, penalty and early retirement.
Ferrari finished second last season, just 14 points behind champions McLaren, but this term they have scored less than half of their Woking rivals’ total points, and have finished outside the top three in the standings just three times in the past 31 seasons (2020, 2014 and 2009).
They now only have Grands Prix in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi remaining, and are in imminent danger of recording their first winless year since 2021. Leclerc has finished runner-up on two of his seven podium finishes this season.
F1’s thrilling title race continues until the Las Vegas Grand Prix from November 21-23, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
