FORMER FERRARI DRIVER LIFTS THE LID ON THE SCUDERIA'S REAL ISSUE

Photo: RacePictures

Gerhard Berger has addressed Ferrari's delicate situations and the recent remarks made by chairman John Elkann.

“The expectations for Ferrari are always much higher than for other teams”

- GERHARD BERGER

According to the Austrian — who raced for Ferrari from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1995 — the team’s real issue is that expectations around Ferrari are always far higher than for any other outfit, creating a level of pressure that’s quite hard to manage.

“The expectations for Ferrari are always much higher than for other teams. If they finish the championship in fourth, it will be seen as insufficient,” as quoted by Repubblica.

Recently, chairman Elkann made explosive remarks, urging the two drivers to “focus on driving more and talk less,” sparking a lot of debate online.

“When success doesn’t come, people become more emotional,” Berger stated. “It’s tough for mechanics, engineers, managers, and even the drivers. Leclerc is working really well, but Hamilton is also trying everything to win another title, which is his goal. At the moment, things aren’t going perfectly.”

For Berger, the only way forward is to stick with the current group and maintain calm and stability: “I believe the most important thing is to stay calm and focus on continuity, consistency, and unity. I remember that when Jean Todt joined Ferrari, it took him years to win the championship, and eventually he made it the strongest team of all.”

Elkann handed advice amid Hamilton and Leclerc criticism

Gian Carlo Minardi also weighed in on Elkann’s comments after the Brazilian Grand Prix — a weekend where Ferrari limped home with a double DNF, their second of the season.

According to him, “a team president must be a good family man” and that “criticism is made internally, never externally.”

He further stressed that management needs to be “like a family man, not like a court. We need to be less critical externally and much more critical internally.”

- byTobia Elia

FERRARI CHAIRMAN'S BIZAIRRE "TALK LESSATTACK ON LEWIS HAMILTON, CHARLES LECLERC

“We have drivers who need to focus on driving, talk less, and remember that important races lie ahead - and it’s not impossible to finish second.”

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has told Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc they should “focus on driving” and “talk less” following the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Ferrari endured another miserable weekend at Interlagos as both drivers failed to finish the race.

Leclerc’s non-finish came after contact with Kimi Antonelli, who was pushed into him by Oscar Piastri, damaging his front suspension and front-left tyre.

Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 and sustained damage on the opening lap. 

The seven-time world champion suffered significant floor damage, forcing him to retire from the race.

The double DNF has seen Ferrari slip to fourth in the constructors’ championship, behind Mercedes and Red Bull.

Elkann, Ferrari chairman since 2018, has yet to see the team mount a season-long title challenge under his leadership.

John Elkann

Unusually, he publicly criticised his drivers after the Sao Paulo GP for being too outspoken and that they should focus on driving.

“Ferrari wins when it is united, and the result in WEC has taught us that,” he said, as quoted by Autoracer.it.  “When everyone works together, great things can be achieved. Brazil was a huge disappointment. In Formula 1, we have mechanics who are always top in executing pit stops. 

“The engineers work to improve the car. The rest is not up to par. We have drivers who need to focus on driving, talk less, and remember that important races lie ahead - and it’s not impossible to finish second. This is the most important message coming from Bahrain: when Ferrari is a team, we win.”

FERRARI’S MISERABLE 2025

Ferrari have been the biggest disappointment of the 2025 F1 season. 

They have yet to win a grand prix and currently sit fourth in the constructors’ standings.

Expectations were high heading into the campaign. Ferrari had finished second in last year’s championship, 14 points behind McLaren, and concluded the season with the second-fastest car. 

Combined with signing Hamilton, a serious title challenge was expected.

Instead, the SF-25 has underdelivered. 

Leclerc has managed just seven podiums, while Hamilton has yet to finish in the top three this season.

Leclerc has been outspoken about Ferrari's troubles, leading to speculation that he could leave the team in 2027.

Hamilton has been vocal in giving feedback on what Ferrari needs to improve through various documents he has submitted to the team throughout the year. 

- Connor McDonagh

UFC CEO DANA WHITE JOINS MARK ZUCKERBERG'S META BOARD OF DIRECTORS

UFC CEO Dana White is now in business with Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc., announced Monday the UFC CEO has joined the company’s board of directors along with John Elkann, CEO of Exor; and Charlie Songhurst, former General Manager and Head of Global Corporate Strategy at Microsoft.

“Dana, John and Charlie will add a depth of expertise and perspective that will help us tackle the massive opportunities ahead with AI, wearables and the future of human connection,” Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, said in a news release.

White, who’s mainly known for his work with the UFC, which spans over two decades, showed eagerness for the new venture.

“I’ve never been interested in joining a board of directors until I got the offer to join Meta’s board,” White said. “I am a huge believer that social media and AI are the future. I am very excited to join this incredible team and to learn more about this business from the inside. There is nothing I love more than building brands, and I look forward to helping take Meta to the next level.”

The announcement may not come entirely out of left field. Zuckerberg is a public fan and supporter of the UFC, and in recent years has been attending events, and seen hanging out with fighters and White himself. He even was one of the cornermen for Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. In addition, the UFC also used to stream its preliminary card fights on Facebook Live.

- Danny Segura

EXOR SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY FUNDS OVER POSSIBLE JUVENTUS SALE

Chairman and CEO of Exor and Chairman of Fiat Chrisler Automobiles John Elkann. Reuters 

Exor (EXOR.AS), the investment company controlled by Italy's Agnelli family, has not received any approach from funds over a possible sale of Serie A soccer club Juventus (JUVE.MI), its Chief Executive John Elkann said on Thursday.

Asked by reporters whether any funds, including Arab or American, had approached Exor, which controls the soccer club, over a possible transaction, Elkann replied: "no".

"Nor have we approached funds, it's not a scenario we're interested in," Elkann said at a news conference before Exor's investor day.

He added that Exor was not considering delisting Juventus.