Lewis Hamilton Breaks Silence After Ferrari Boss Slams Him And Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have spoken out after Ferrari chairman John Elkann criticised both drivers following the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Both Ferrari cars failed to finish a Grand Prix for the second time this season in Interlagos.

Leclerc was forced to retire following a collision involving Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli, with the impact from Antonelli causing significant terminal front suspension damage.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was hit by Carlos Sainz at the first corner and then hit the rear of Alpine's Franco Colapinto on the pit straight, causing front wing and floor damage.

The seven-time world champion, who was given a five-second penalty for the second incident, said he lost between 30 to 40 points of downforce due to the damage, and subsequently retired his car on lap 38.

The Scuderia did not leave Brazil pointless, as Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and seventh in the sprint for a total of six points, but it was a devastating weekend otherwise for the team.

Ferrari chairman John Elkann, who brokered the deal that brought Hamilton to Ferrari ahead of this season and personally pursued his signing, was surprisingly critical of both drivers after the race in Interlagos.

At an Olympics sponsorship event on Monday, he commented: "We definitely have drivers who need to focus on driving and talk less because we still have important races, and getting second place is not impossible.

"At Bahrain [on Saturday], we won the World Endurance Championship title. When Ferrari is united, we get results."

Though BBC Sport report that the comments were meant to be taken in a 'constructive' manner 'as a spur to improve', the fanbases of both Hamilton and Leclerc have not taken them in that way.

And the two drivers have now broken their silence - without addressing the chairman's comments directly.

Taking to Twitter, Hamilton wrote: "I back my team. I back myself. I will not give up. Not now, not then, not ever. Thank you, Brazil, always."

Leclerc, meanwhile, posted a photo of himself alongside Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur, writing: "A very difficult weekend in Sao Paulo. Disappointing to come back home with nearly no points at all for the team in what is a critical moment of the season to fight for the 2nd place in the Constructors' Championship.

"It's uphill from now and it's clear that only unity can help us turn that situation around in the last three races. We'll give it all, as always."

F1 is back this weekend with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Ferrari looking to reduce a points deficit to second-placed Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship that now stands at 36 points.