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Motorsport

Ferrari chairman: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton "need to focus on driving and talk less”

Ferrari president John Elkann has discussed the disappointing Brazil Grand Prix that resulted in the Maranello outfit slipping from second to fourth in the constructors' standings after a double DNF. The Ferrari chief claimed that drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton need to "focus on driving and talk less".

"We won the Endurance world titles in Bahrain, and it was an extraordinary feeling. Winning both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships shows that when Ferrari is united, when everyone works together, we can achieve truly great things," he told Sky Sports Italy.

"Brazil was a big disappointment. Looking at the Formula 1 championship, we can say that we have our mechanics, who are basically winning the championship with their performance and everything that has been done on the pitstops. Our engineers have undoubtedly improved the car. But when it comes to the rest, it is still not up to par.

"And surely we have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less. We still have important races ahead of us, and it is not impossible to achieve second place [in the constructors]. This is the most important message, because Bahrain itself is the demonstration that, when everyone at Ferrari work together, we win."

Heading into the Brazil Grand Prix weekend, Ferrari sat second in the constructors' standings. A mixed sprint qualifying left Leclerc and Hamilton starting the sprint race from eighth and 11th, respectively. While the drivers were able to convert this into fifth and seventh-place finishes, it was not enough to keep Mercedes at bay as the Brackley outfit overtook Ferrari in the standings with second and third-place finishes.

Unfortunately for the Fred Vasseur-led team, the weekend continued to deteriorate. Leclerc started the race from P3 on the grid but ultimately retired after a clash with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri. Hamilton, who started from 13th, also retired due to damage sustained from early collisions with Williams's Carlos Sainz and Alpine's Franco Colapinto.

The double DNF, combined with an impressive drive from Red Bull's Max Verstappen from the pitlane to P3, placed Ferrari fourth in the standings by the end of the weekend.

Hamilton was particularly damning in his reflection of the weekend. "It's a nightmare," he told Sky Sports F1 after the race. "I've been living it for a while. The flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and then the nightmare of the results that we've had.

"The ups and downs. It's challenging. Tomorrow I'll get back up. I'll keep training. I'll keep working with the team. I really wanted to get them good points this weekend but I'll come back as strong as I can in the next race and try to recover."

With three rounds remaining, the battle for second in the constructors' championship is tight with 36 points separating Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.

Photos from Sao Paulo GP - Race

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Rubens Barrichello looks on in the Paddock

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Egle Ruskyte looks on in the Paddock

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Alex Pereira arrives in the Paddock

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Rayssa Leal arrives in the Paddock

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Prates visits the Mercedes AMG F1 Team garage

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Billy Idol on the grid

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Alexandre Pato and Rebeca Abravanel in the Alpine F1 garage

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

The drivers parade

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Bernie Ecclestone looks on on the grid

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Alexander Albon, Williams, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Marshal recovers a tyre carcass from the track

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari crash

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Sunday, in photos

Formula 1
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