Ferrari employee intervened during Charles Leclerc press conference after endless John Elkann questions

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John Elkann’s criticism of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is on the minds of everyone in the paddock at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

After Ferrari recorded a double DNF at the Brazilian GP, chairman Elkann told his driver to ‘talk less’ and focus more on driving. Hamilton said he was ‘living a nightmare’ in 2025, having not scored a podium since moving to Maranello.

Ferrari claim that Elkann’s remarks were meant to encourage the team to fight for P2 in the constructors’ championship. But many people are not so sure of that, with several fans calling for the chairman to resign from his post.

Nevertheless, the drivers have played down the drama at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, claiming there were no ill intentions in Elkann’s comments. But that did not stop questions from the media as they try to uncover what is really going on.

Ferrari’s PR stopped John Elkann questions during Charles Leclerc’s press conference in Las Vegas

Ferrari’s PR told Leclerc and Hamilton to put on a ‘brave face’ as endless questions came their way about Elkann’s criticism. It got to the point where an employee told the media during the former’s press conference to ask him about Las Vegas.

Journalist Andrew Benson recalled the ordeal on the Chequered Flag podcast: “It’s a typical Ferrari scenario, isn’t it? It was interesting, it was one of those press conferences where almost every question was about one subject.

“To the extent that, by the time we got halfway through Charles Leclerc’s press conference, who was second, the Ferrari PR woman said: ‘Have you got any questions about Las Vegas?’

“It took a while to get to the nub of it, but the key line, for me, out of Hamilton’s response was, he said that this season had reminded him of how resilient he was.

“And I asked him whether it was fair to say that he should focus more on driving, could he focus more on driving. And he said: ‘No, not really, I wake up thinking about it, I go to sleep thinking about it and I think about it when I’m sleeping.

“If anything, I have to focus on being able to unplug more, it’s been a really heavy year’. So, they were fundamentally PR-centred in the responses, but I thought that one particularly was quite revealing.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Could Charles Leclerc be on the way out of Ferrari?

Elkann called Leclerc ahead of the Las Vegas GP, detailing what he intended to say in his media outburst. The Monegasque driver continues to state that the comments were meant to be constructive, but for many, the damage is already done.

Ralf Schumacher has told Leclerc to look for ‘Plan B’ in the wake of Elkann’s comments. Rumours are already circulating that the 28-year-old is considering his future in Maranello.

He is growing frustrated with the team’s lack of progress and how he has yet to fight for a championship. Leclerc has an exit clause in his contract in 2026, which could facilitate a departure.

Aston Martin have ‘repeatedly contacted’ Leclerc’s manager as they plot an ambitious move for 2027. They have the Monegasque driver on their shortlist as they prepare to lose Fernando Alonso to retirement.