Jenson Button says Lewis Hamilton has already proved John Elkann wrong at the Las Vegas Grand Prix

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Jenson Button was critical of Ferrari president John Elkann, who told his drivers to ‘talk less’ and focus on their jobs before the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Button wrote ‘maybe John should lead by example’ in response to Elkann’s comments. At the time of writing, over 28,000 fans have liked the comment.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had their chance to address the issue on Thursday. Leclerc’s media session featured endless Elkann questions, so much so that a Ferrari employee invited journalists to ask about the race instead.

Ferrari’s PR team briefed the drivers before they faced the press. They were told to put on a ‘brave face’ and present the image of a united front.

Jenson Button commends Lewis Hamilton’s professionalism at Ferrari

The message from Ferrari clearly got through to the drivers. Hamilton said he understood Elkann’s true ‘intentions’ and revealed that they speak on the phone ‘several’ times per week.

Both of them are committed to ‘bringing the team together’, and Elkann’s criticism only demonstrated his ‘passion’.

Speaking on Sky Sports before FP1 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Button called Hamilton’s reaction ‘beautiful’. If Elkann was questioning the professionalism of the seven-time world champion, he immediately proved him wrong.

“He’s got two very professional drivers,” said Button. “Listening to Charles and Lewis in their interviews, they said it beautifully. There’s the proof. 

“These guys are so professional, they are two of the best in the world and they are doing their talking on the track.”

Charles Leclerc defends Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton says he ‘goes to sleep’ thinking about F1 and claims he’s visited the factory more than ever this year as he adapts to a new team after 12 seasons at Mercedes.

Former boss Toto Wolff called Hamilton ‘a fish out of water’, noting that he’d spent his entire career at British-based teams and was now operating in an entirely new structure in Italy.

However, Leclerc says Hamilton has a ‘really good relationship’ with Ferrari. He’s denied that his new teammate is ‘struggling to find his place’ at Maranello.