Photo: Race Pictures

Under Elkann, Ferrari falters: do these results back up his statements?

16:32, 12 Nov

byTobia Elia

Ferrari has certainly not shone in terms of results over the seven years under John Elkann’s presidency.

Succeeding Sergio Marchionne in October 2018, following his tragic death just a few months earlier, the partnership between Ferrari and Elkann—who also holds top positions at Exor, Stellantis, and Juventus—has so far failed to deliver the expected results, with the performance to date falling short of the standards of the most successful and prestigious Formula 1 team.

Over eight seasons at the helm of the team, Ferrari has managed just 15 wins out of 160 races, with no championships secured and a staggering three seasons without a single victory.

This is compounded by the long list of team principals and drivers who have come and gone over the years. Maurizio Arrivabene, Mattia Binotto, and now Frederic Vasseur have yet to succeed in bringing the Maranello outfit back to the top of the world.

Ferrari chairman John Elkann - Photo: Race Pictures

The drivers who have cycled through the team in the past eight years number five—six if you count Oliver Bearman’s one-off race in Jeddah in 2024—including Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and Lewis Hamilton. None of them has managed to win a title, or even fight for one until the end of the season.

Button’s blunt response to Elkann criticism

The day after the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, during which Ferrari suffered its second double retirement of the season, President Elkann fired off scathing comments at the current driver line-up, urging them to “focus on driving more and talk less.”

The remarks caused a stir among both fans and industry insiders, with 2009 World Champion Jenson Button weighing in on a post dedicated to Elkann and his recent comments.

Here’s what the now-retired British driver, who officially announced the end of his professional racing career just last weekend, had to say.

GPblog’s Latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay on top of everything happening in the Formula 1 paddock? GPblog’s F1 Paddock Update video series is the perfect way to keep up. Subscribe to GPblog’s YouTube channel and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.