Jenson Button believes Ferrari president John Elkann should have spoken to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton before publicly criticising the pair. 

Elkann said after the Brazilian Grand Prix that both Leclerc and Hamilton should "focus on driving and talk less" following the pair's early retirements from the race in Sao Paulo. 

Indeed, it marked the third time this season that both Ferraris had failed to score points after being disqualified in China and failing to finish at the Dutch Grand Prix in August. 

And their misery was further compounded by Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell as well as Max Verstappen, who all finished inside the top five at Interlagos. 

With just three races and one sprint of the 2025 campaign remaining, Ferrari dropped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship, 36 points adrift of second-placed Mercedes. 

Both Leclerc and Hamilton are expected to be asked about what Elkann said ahead of this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, with 2009 world champion Button saying that the Ferrari chief's comments will not have helped the dynamic in the Scuderia garage. 

"Ferrari have always had a lot of pressure on them to perform," said Button on Sky Sports F1's The F1 Show. 

"Every F1 team does, but especially Ferrari. You've got the whole of Italy wanting Ferrari to win races. 

"There's so much outside pressure and internally for the whole team. And that's for everyone in that team. So I get it, there's a lot of pressure.

"But, John only has two cars in the garage. It's easy to find your racing driver and go and talk to him and say, 'You know what? That's not cool. That's not the way we do business. That's not the way we work as a team. These are the guidelines'. 

"Or: 'let's talk about why you need to do that. Why do you feel the need to be sending so-and-so this and that?'

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Scuderia Ferrari HP (@scuderiaferrari)

"I get it. You're trying to help. But this is how it's always been at Ferrari. Communication is the best thing in anything, but especially in a team when you have thousands of people working to develop a car, and you've got two drivers, two of the best in the world, just go and have a chat.

"They have a lot of experience as well of racing for the best teams in the sport."

Ferrari's last win came at the Mexico City Grand Prix last year, where Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams, finished ahead of Lando Norris. 

Leclerc has picked up all seven of Ferrari's podiums in 2025, while Hamilton claimed victory in the sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Ferrari are the most successful team in Formula One, having won 16 Constructors' Championships, though they have failed to win the team title since 2008.