Ferrari Chairman John Elkann Admits Formula 1 Team Fell Short of Ambitions Following Winless 2025 Campaign

Ferrari Chairman John Elkann addresses 2025 performance gaps in shareholder letter, noting a 100% podium start to the 2026 F1 season as a sign of recovery.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 6:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Strategic Reflection on a Season of Formula 1 Underperformance

The leadership at Maranello has offered a blunt assessment of the recent competitive failings that saw the most storied name in motor racing struggle to maintain its status at the front of the grid. John Elkann, serving as the chairman of Ferrari and CEO of Exor, used his annual communication to investors to clarify that the 2025 Formula 1 campaign did not meet the rigorous standards expected by the board. This public admission of a shortfall in ambition serves as a rare moment of corporate transparency, particularly following a year where the team failed to secure a single Grand Prix victory. According to Elkann, the period was characterized more by the lessons learned through adversity than by the silverware typically associated with the Prancing Horse.

The Challenges of a High Profile Driver Transition

Much of the scrutiny during the previous season focused on the integration of seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, whose move to the Italian outfit was met with immense global anticipation. However, the partnership faced immediate technical hurdles, resulting in a debut year for Hamilton in Ferrari red that saw him fail to secure a single podium finish. This lack of top tier results created a palpable narrative tension within the paddock, leading Elkann to issue a stern directive late in the year for both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to prioritize their on track performance over public discourse. The chairman’s demand that his drivers focus on the cockpit rather than external narratives underscored the high stakes and internal pressure mounting at the team’s headquarters.

Success in Endurance Racing Provides a Competitive Blueprint

While the Formula 1 division faltered, Ferrari found significant redemption through its dominant performance in the World Endurance Championship. The brand managed to retain its prestigious Le Mans title and secured a double championship in both the manufacturers and drivers categories, a feat Elkann noted occurred more than half a century after their last endurance world title. This success in long distance racing, which includes three consecutive Le Mans wins with different driver lineups, has been framed as a testament to the collective strength and unity of the organization. The chairman suggested that the spirit of the mechanics and engineers in the end...